The Ashanti Wildcard? Whispers Grow Louder for Asenso-Boakye to Join NPP Flagbearer Race

The Ashanti Wildcard? Whispers Grow Louder for Asenso-Boakye to Join NPP Flagbearer Race

Francis Asenso-Boakye, MP for Bantama, is seen by many as a potential dark horse in the NPP's upcoming presidential primaries.

As the New Patriotic Party (NPP) prepares for a pivotal contest to elect its next flagbearer, the political grapevine is buzzing with a name that could significantly alter the race: Francis Asenso-Boakye, the current Member of Parliament for Bantama.

While established front-runners have dominated early conversations, speculation is mounting within party corridors that the two-term legislator and former Deputy Chief of Staff is being urged to throw his hat into the ring.

Sources close to the party suggest that Asenso-Boakye represents a unique and powerful proposition. His political journey is deeply intertwined with the NPP’s core structure. As a founder of the Tertiary Students' Confederacy (TESCON), one of the party’s most effective and enduring mobilisation machines, his credentials as a grassroots organiser are virtually unmatched. This history gives him a foundational network of loyalists spread across the country, many of whom are now in influential positions themselves.

His experience is not limited to party organisation. Having served as a Deputy Chief of Staff at the Jubilee House, Asenso-Boakye was at the nerve center of the Akufo-Addo administration, gaining invaluable insight into the mechanics of the presidency. His subsequent role as Minister for Works and Housing further burnished his credentials in governance and policy implementation.

Fueling the speculation is a powerful undercurrent from the NPP’s political stronghold, the Ashanti Region. It is believed that there is a strong desire within the region to produce the next leader of the party. While other prominent figures from Ashanti have been mentioned, analysts suggest Asenso-Boakye may enjoy a broader and more cross-generational appeal.

"He combines youthful energy with top-level executive experience," a party insider noted on condition of anonymity. "He is seen as a bridge between the party's establishment and its vibrant youth base, which he helped build with TESCON. Compared to others, his appeal might be less polarising and more unifying."

A formal declaration from the Bantama MP has not yet been made, and his camp remains officially silent. However, his potential candidacy is viewed as a strategic move that could disrupt the existing calculus. His entry would force other aspirants to contend with a candidate who boasts a rare combination of grassroots mobilisation skills, high-level executive experience, and a strong base in the party's "world bank."

As the NPP marches towards its presidential primaries, all eyes will be watching to see if these quiet whispers about the man from Bantama will crescendo into a full-blown campaign that could reshape the future of the party.