Dr Sammy Crabbe, a contender for the National Chairmanship position of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has intensified his nationwide engagement with party delegates as he campaigns on a message of renewal, organisation and preparation for the 2028 general elections.
As part of his constituency-by-constituency tour, Dr Crabbe has been outlining his vision for rebuilding the party, arguing that the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections should not be viewed as a sign that the party cannot return to power.
According to him, a careful analysis of previous election results shows that victory remains achievable if the party strengthens its structures, improves mobilisation and builds a broad national coalition.
Using the 2020 presidential election results, Dr Crabbe told delegates that if Dr Mahamudu Bawumia had secured the same number of votes obtained by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2020, he would have defeated President John Dramani Mahama by about 138,700 votes.
“The numbers show that victory is within reach. It is still possible, but possibility must now be converted into organisation, representation, mobilisation and disciplined action,” he said.A major part of Dr Crabbe’s campaign message has focused on reconstructing what he describes as the NPP’s winning electoral map.
He has referenced electoral trends from 2000 to 2024, particularly the 2016 election results, to argue that the party must rebuild a nationwide coalition beyond its traditional strongholds.
He said the party must strengthen its presence in regions including Greater Accra, Central, Western, Western North, Ahafo, Bono, Bono East, Eastern, Volta, Oti and the northern regions.
Dr Crabbe has also urged delegates to consider regional representation when electing national executives, arguing that the leadership of the party must reflect the electoral coalition it seeks to build.
“The National Executive must reflect the electoral map we want to build,” he said, adding that representation brings knowledge, networks, legitimacy and a deeper understanding of communities.
The former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NPP has placed particular emphasis on the strategic importance of the region, noting that the party did not have an elected national executive from Greater Accra during the 2020 and 2024 elections.
He argued that the absence weakened the party’s ability to fully understand and mobilise within one of Ghana’s most politically diverse regions.
Dr Crabbe said winning Greater Accra requires building a broad coalition involving professionals, workers, students, traders, business leaders, civil servants, academics, health professionals and urban communities.
Dr Crabbe has told delegates that they have the power to reshape the party through their choice of national executives.
Drawing from his background in leadership, organisational behaviour and change management, he argued that the NPP’s challenges should be addressed through institutional reforms rather than focusing only on individual personalities.
He said the party must review its staffing structure, incentive systems, decision-making processes, training programmes, financing model and monitoring mechanisms.
“The delegates are not powerless observers. They are the people who staff the Party,” he said.
The National Chairmanship hopeful has also pledged to formalise relations between the party and an NPP government through a proposed Party-Government Memorandum of Understanding.
He said the arrangement would clarify how party members, constituencies and regions participate in government, manage expectations and ensure transparency in delivering opportunities.
Dr Crabbe said such a framework would help strengthen trust among members who sacrifice time and resources for the party.
Another key component of his campaign is the establishment of a party-backed insurance company, which he has named Patriotic Insurance.
He said the initiative would generate sustainable revenue for party administration, constituency activities, welfare programmes, training and election preparation, while creating employment opportunities for qualified party members.
Dr Crabbe also promised immediate training programmes for constituency, regional and national executives in areas such as mobilisation, communication, data management, electoral strategy and leadership.
During his engagements, Dr Crabbe has highlighted his involvement in the NPP’s 2024 election campaign, insisting that he remained committed to the party despite previous disagreements.
“I never went missing. Whatever may have happened in the past, I remained with the Party and worked for its success,” he said.
He also pointed to his working relationship with Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP’s flagbearer, and his current role as an adviser to the Jobs and Employment Committee established by Dr Bawumia.
Dr Crabbe said his experience in politics, business and academia positions him to lead efforts to rebuild the NPP into a united, disciplined and financially sustainable organisation ahead of the 2028 elections.
“The Party has elected its flagbearer. Our responsibility now is to build the organisation, coalition, systems and financial strength required to carry him and our parliamentary candidates to victory,” he said.
