A leading stalwart of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and former Minister of Energy, Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko, has called on the leadership of the party to scrap what he describes as the false and divisive “Danquah-Busia-Dombo” label, urging a return to the original United Party (UP) tradition that birthed the NPP.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Sunday, September 28, 2025, Mr. Agyarko argued that the long-standing attachment of the NPP to the so-called “Danquah-Busia-Dombo” tradition is misleading, unnecessary, and counterproductive to party unity. He maintained that the deeds and practices of members clearly demonstrate that the NPP has moved away from such a characterization, insisting that the tag does not reflect the party’s core ideals.
“Day in and day out, our collective actions provide ample reasons why we must rid ourselves of this false ‘Danquah-Busia-Dombo’ label, with all its cascading false claims and consequences, and return to our original label of the UP tradition,” Mr. Agyarko stated.
According to him, the imposition of this label has rather become a “harbinger of unnecessary strife,” breeding divisions within the party at a time when it needs unity more than ever. He stressed that a return to the UP tradition — which he described as the true ideological foundation of the NPP — would help eliminate the false claims, counter-claims, and factional rivalries that have plagued the party in recent years.
“With such a return to our original label (UP tradition), these false claims and counter-claims will be delegitimized and disappear. Our tradition is and must be the UP tradition, nothing more, nothing less,” he emphasized.
Mr. Agyarko further clarified that the UP tradition is not about hero-worship or the deification of leaders, but rather about holding fast to the values, principles, and collective vision that guided the party’s founding fathers. “The UP tradition is not about hero-worshiping individuals or deifying our leaders, but rather holding dear and remaining true to our values and principles. We pay our respects to those who reflect and exemplify our values,” he explained.
His remarks come against the backdrop of renewed internal wrangling within the NPP following its defeat in the 2024 general elections. The party is currently preparing for its presidential primary, a process that has already generated tension and allegations of bias in the choice of election dates, with some aspirants accusing the leadership of favouring particular candidates.
Mr. Agyarko cautioned that in such a sensitive period, the NPP cannot afford to be distracted by false historical labels or divisive rhetoric. Instead, he said, the leadership must provide clarity, restore peace of mind, and focus on uniting the party under its true ideological foundation.
“As members of one family, what we need now more than ever is peace of mind and unity. We cannot build a formidable political force on the back of falsehood and misplaced loyalties. Our future depends on a conscious return to the UP tradition,” he urged.
Mr. Boakye Agyarko’s intervention adds to the growing debate within the NPP about its identity, history, and the way forward. As the party gears up for a critical internal contest and seeks to rebuild after its electoral setback, his call for ideological clarity and unity is expected to resonate widely among grassroots supporters and party faithful.
