Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, also known as Asanteman COKA, has won the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional chairmanship election after securing a decisive victory in the Saturday, August 15, 2026, regional contest with a solemn pledge to include all contestants in his administration.
He polled 658 votes to emerge as the winner of the keenly contested race (approximately 71%), defeating Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu, a former Member of Parliament for Bantama and former Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), who secured 269 votes.
The wide margin between the two candidates gives COKA a strong mandate to lead the NPP’s regional structures in the Ashanti Region, which remains the NPP’s stronghold.
COKA had entered the contest with strong confidence in his chances of victory and had openly expressed his expectation of securing an overwhelming majority of the votes.
Ahead of the election, he was resolute about his prospects and indicated that he was expecting nothing below 90 percent of the votes.
His prediction reflected the confidence he had in his support base and the level of backing he believed he enjoyed among delegates across the Ashanti Region.
The Ashanti Regional chairmanship is regarded as one of the most influential positions within the NPP because of the region’s importance to the party’s political fortunes. The new chairman will therefore have a crucial role to play in ensuring unity, mobilization, and effective coordination among party members.
Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu, despite his previous experience as a legislator and his former role as EPA chief executive, could only manage 269 votes in the contest.
Call for unity
In his acceptance speech, Asanteman COKA assured members of the party who contested against him and others that they will all have a bite in his administration’s cake, stressing that the NPP is a party for all and not for a particular group of people.
He pledged to strengthen the party and mobilize support across the region to reclaim all the lost parliamentary seats and for NPP’s massive victory in the 2028 general election.
“To all losing candidates, I know how you feel now, and I have news for you. You all have space in my administration. Prepare to come onboard,” the newly elected chairman said.
He added that his victory should not be interpreted as a triumph over other contenders but as an opportunity to unite the party and rebuild its structures ahead of the 2028 general election.
“This victory does not mean I am the oldest, the richest, or the most educated person. Instead, it marks the beginning of a new era. It reflects our unity and our shared commitment to one common goal, to put aside our personal differences, combine our strengths, and work together to rebuild the NPP in the Ashanti Region,” he stated.
Common objective
Asanteman COKA acknowledged the NPP’s current standing as an opposition party and said it must confront its internal challenges head-on if it is to return to government in 2029.
“Our party faces a challenge: to stay united, focused, and determined to build a stronger and better future together. In times like this, unity becomes a must. Let us close our ranks. I promise to lead the way, and I will need your help,” he told the jubilant supporters at Kumasi Jubilee Stadium.
He further promised to ensure that all party members, regardless of age or status, feel included and that in his “chairmanship, everybody will have the chance to perform his or her duties as prescribed by the constitution.
“I assure you that all party members, young or old, will feel a sense of belonging in my administration,” he added.
Asanteman COKA also called for tolerance of divergent views, saying his leadership would respect dissenting opinions as part of the democratic process because in a democracy the majority always carries the day, and dissenting views are respected and welcomed.
He urged party members to abandon internal divisions and support one another.
“The election is over. Let us work together. From today, let us stop pulling each other down. Let us push each other up. Let us help one another,” he stated.
Welfare of NPP members
Asanteman COKA said his administration would be guided by love and a commitment to the welfare of party members.
“I will not abandon you. I will not leave you to your own resources. I will not stand taller than you,” he stated boldly.
He expressed confidence that a united NPP will regain power in 2028, emphasizing, “The NPP will rise again.”
