Ahiagbah: ‘I gave my all to NPP despite accident’
NPP communications director says his record stands on its own as he seeks broader role to drive party reforms
New Patriotic Party (NPP) Director of Communications Richard Ahiagbah says he gave his full commitment to the party even after surviving a near-fatal accident in 2024, insisting that the incident did not prevent him from carrying out his responsibilities.Mr Ahiagbah, who is contesting for the position of First National Vice Chairman of the NPP, said he continued working for the party despite the physical and other challenges arising from the accident. “I gave my all. Even in accident, I continued to work for my party,” he said.
He made the remarks during an interview on Metro TV’s Good Afternoon Ghana on Monday, August 17, 2026, while reflecting on his tenure as Communications Director and explaining his decision to seek a different leadership position. Mr Ahiagbah survived the accident on the Kumasi-Accra highway near Aduapompo in July 2024. He said the incident, while presenting significant difficulties, did not diminish his commitment to the party or his determination to fulfil his duties. He rejected suggestions that his decision not to seek another term as Communications Director was an indication that he had fallen short in the role. “I don’t think that anybody can say in good conscience that I didn’t discharge my duties, unless the person is driven by any selfish political interest,” he stated.
Mr Ahiagbah said his decision to contest for First National Vice Chairman was driven largely by his assessment of what he described as broader challenges facing the NPP and the need for internal reforms. He explained that remaining in the communications portfolio would constrain his ability to directly engage in some of the structural issues he believes require attention within the party. “I chose not to contest for Communication Director apparently because I see the global issue with the party,” he said. He added: “As Communication Director, I cannot be venturing to talk about party reform when I am supposed to be doing communication.”
According to him, the First National Vice Chairman position would provide a wider platform from which he could contribute to organizational reforms and work closely with the National Chairman to reposition the party. A central part of Mr Ahiagbah’s proposed agenda is a shift in the way the NPP organises and deploys its resources, with greater emphasis on the grassroots. He said the party must move beyond a concentration of political activity and resources at its national headquarters in Accra and empower constituencies and polling-station structures to play a more decisive role. “The party must be wrestled from national and brought down to the people to manage,” he said.
His comments suggest that his campaign for the First National Vice Chairman position is being framed not simply as a personal political advancement, but as an attempt to influence the NPP’s organizational direction and strengthen its grassroots structures. Mr Ahiagbah maintained that his performance as Communications Director should be assessed within the circumstances under which he operated, including the personal challenges he faced after the accident. “I gave my all to the party and people who know that I gave my all,” he stated. His decision to seek the First National Vice Chairman position therefore marks a shift from a communications-focused role to a broader organizational and political ambition, with party reform and stronger grassroots structures at the centre of his stated agenda.
By: Joyce Owusu
