The political undercurrents within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region took a significant and strategic turn on Tuesday, as a coalition of former party executives publicly declared their renewed allegiance to Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, honouring him with the Akan honorary title “Obedombie” — meaning a helper in times of need.
The high-level meeting, held at Danyame in Kumasi, drew together influential former executives of the governing party who described Dr. Opoku Prempeh’s loyalty, support, and consistent commitment to their welfare as unmatched in the party’s recent history.
The gathering, widely seen as politically consequential, was framed not only as an act of gratitude but also as a strong signal of shifting alliances and emerging power consolidation within the party’s traditional stronghold.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as Napo, served as the NPP’s vice-presidential candidate during the 2024 general elections.
Though the party suffered an electoral setback, Tuesday’s endorsement suggests that key political actors in the Ashanti Region are positioning him as a central figure in the party’s rebuilding agenda ahead of the 2028 elections.
Beyond the honorary title, the former executives went further to name him Life Patron of their association — a designation political observers interpret as both a recognition of personal loyalty and a deliberate move to anchor future influence around his leadership.
Many analysts believe this development represents a calculated attempt to reset internal dynamics within the party, particularly in the Ashanti Region, which has historically served as the NPP’s electoral heartbeat.
Announcing the decision, Hon. Kwabena Nsenkyire, former Ashanti Regional First Vice Chairman of the NPP, stated that the group is repositioning itself to play a decisive role in shaping the party’s future.
According to him, former executives across constituencies possess invaluable grassroots experience and organizational structures that must not be ignored in the party’s reorganization process.
“We have the numbers, the experience, and the structures,” Hon. Nsenkyire declared, urging the party’s national leadership to urgently integrate former executives into the ongoing rebuilding efforts.
He argued that the NPP cannot afford to sideline seasoned party operatives if it intends to return stronger in 2028.
Hon. Nsenkyire further disclosed that the group has already begun extensive engagements with delegates and supporters of all aspirants who contested the party’s recent presidential primaries.
This, he explained, forms part of a broader strategy to neutralize internal divisions that many within the party have blamed for contributing to the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections.
The outreach is reportedly aimed at fostering unity, consolidating support, and preventing factionalism from undermining the party’s prospects going forward.
Sources close to the meeting described the initiative as a “calculated attempt to bring all camps under one umbrella” as the party begins its long road toward electoral recovery.
Political analysts monitoring developments within the NPP believe the conferment of the “Obedombie” title is far more than ceremonial.
Rather, it reflects an emerging effort by the Ashanti political base to reassert itself and reshape the party’s internal balance of power, with Dr. Opoku Prempeh increasingly seen as a rallying point for unity and renewed direction.
“The symbolism is heavy,” one analyst noted. “When former executives in Kumasi collectively endorse a figure like Napo in this manner, it is a message not only to party members but also to the national leadership.”
Dr. Opoku Prempeh’s rise as a unifying figure comes at a time when the NPP is seeking to rebuild trust, strengthen grassroots structures, and redefine its strategic leadership ahead of the 2028 general elections.
The Ashanti Region’s influence within the party remains pivotal, and Tuesday’s gathering suggests that key actors are already mobilizing early around personalities they believe can inspire confidence and cohesion.
As the NPP navigates its post-2024 political reality, the endorsement of Dr. Opoku Prempeh as “Obedombie” may prove to be one of the earliest and clearest signs of the party’s internal recalibration — with Kumasi once again at the centre of the conversation.
For many observers, the message is unmistakable: the road to 2028 has begun, and Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh is emerging as one of its most prominent pillars.
