Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, has described Kojo Bamba’s election as NPP First Vice Chairman as a strategic move that could strengthen the party’s position by boosting voters’ confidence in election security.
Mr Bentil said the perception of safety during elections could influence whether people turn up to vote, arguing that voters may stay away from polling stations if they fear for their security.
“People will not even go to the polling station to vote if they don’t perceive that they will be secure,” he said.
According to him, having a senior party figure capable of projecting strength could reassure supporters and encourage greater participation in elections.
“If you have somebody at a very high level who has the capability, whether he will do it or not, to project that once I’m here you can be assured of your security, it will lead more people to go and vote. It will create more confidence in the election,” he stated.
Mr Bentil stressed that the aim should be to protect the electoral process and prevent interference, not to encourage unlawful behaviour.
“We are not asking for anybody to go and do anything untoward,” he said. “But when you cast or project that we are strong enough to protect and do what is right to make sure this election is not thwarted or messed up, you send a signal that guarantees peace.”
Although Mr Bentil said he had personally preferred former minister Mustafa Hamid in the NPP contest, he expressed confidence in the delegates’ decision.
He subsequently described Bamba’s victory as “an absolutely master stroke,” arguing that the outcome carried a message for the party’s leadership and the broader political landscape.
Mr Bentil added that the implications of the delegates’ decision extended beyond the NPP, urging the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) to take note of what he believes the outcome signals.
