Sammy Crabbe can deliver the Greater Accra region to the NPP for victory 2028
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Felix Owusu Anane
- . May 1, 2025
In the complex theatre of Ghanaian politics, the Greater Accra region has emerged as the kingmaker in determining electoral outcomes. Since the dawn of the Fourth Republic, a compelling pattern has emerged: the political party that secures Greater Accra invariably clinches the presidency, with 2020 standing as the sole exception to this rule. With Greater Accra now boasting the country’s highest voting population, surpassing even the traditionally influential Ashanti Region, its strategic importance cannot be overstated. Yet, alarmingly, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has witnessed a precipitous decline in its electoral fortunes within this pivotal region—a trend that demands urgent intervention if the party harbours any ambition of reclaiming power in 2028.
The Greater Accra Conundrum: A Deepening Crisis
The statistics paint a sobering picture of the NPP’s waning influence in Greater Accra. In parliamentary representation, the party’s presence has diminished from 14 seats out of 34 in 2012 to a mere 6 seats in 2024—a staggering 57% reduction. The presidential voting patterns reveal an equally concerning trajectory. While the NPP secured 1,253,179 votes (48.1%) in 2020, this figure plummeted to 681,535 votes (approximately 34%) in 2024, representing a calamitous decline of nearly half a million votes.
This electoral haemorrhage is not merely a regional setback; it represents an existential threat to the NPP’s national aspirations. As the National Democratic Congress (NDC) consolidates its dominance in Greater Accra, the ripple effects extend beyond the region’s boundaries, reinforcing perceptions of the NPP as increasingly disconnected from minority communities across Ghana.
The Representation Deficit: A Critical Factor
Among the multifaceted causes of the NPP’s decline in Greater Accra—including diminished grassroots engagement and growing voter disillusionment—one factor stands out with particular significance: the absence of strategic representation from the region in the party’s national executive structure. For three consecutive national executive administrations, Greater Accra has been conspicuously unrepresented at the highest echelons of the party.
This representation vacuum has not gone unnoticed by the electorate. In a political landscape where communities seek to see themselves reflected in the leadership of the parties they support, the absence of Greater Accra voices in the NPP’s decision-making circles has fostered a sense of marginalisation and exclusion among the region’s voters. This sentiment reverberates particularly strongly among the Ga and Dangme communities, who perceive their historical contributions to the party as increasingly unrecognised and unrewarded.
Sammy Crabbe: The Last Standard-Bearer
Against this backdrop of dwindling representation, one name emerges as a beacon of hope for the NPP’s resurgence in Greater Accra: Sammy Crabbe. As the region’s most recent prominent figure in the party’s upper hierarchy, having served as both Greater Accra Regional Chairman and 2nd Vice Chairman of the NPP, Crabbe represents a bridge between the party’s storied past in the region and its potential future.
Crabbe’s suspension during Paul Afoko’s tenure as National Chairman—widely regarded as contentious—paradoxically underscored his principled commitment to the party’s constitution and his courage in speaking truth to power. Rather than diminishing his stature, these challenges have burnished his credentials as a stalwart defender of the party’s foundational values and as a leader unafraid to stand firm in turbulent times.
The Strategic Imperative for 2028
As the NPP charts its course towards 2028, reinstating Greater Accra’s representation in the party’s national leadership emerges not merely as a symbolic gesture but as a strategic imperative. The election of Sammy Crabbe as National Chairman would signal the party’s recognition of Greater Accra’s pivotal role in national politics and its commitment to inclusive representation that reflects Ghana’s diverse ethnic tapestry.
Crabbe brings to the table not only his deep roots in Greater Accra but also his proven political party management experience—a combination that positions him uniquely to revitalise the NPP’s appeal in the region. His election would resonate beyond Greater Accra, sending a powerful message to other minority regions where the NPP has struggled, including the Upper East, Upper West, Oti, Volta, North-East, Savannah, and Northern Regions.
Beyond Symbolism: The Practical Impact
The elevation of Sammy Crabbe to the position of National Chairman would yield tangible benefits for the NPP’s electoral prospects. By reconnecting with Greater Accra’s electorate, the party could potentially reverse the alarming slide that saw it lose nearly half a million presidential votes between 2020 and 2024.
Moreover, Crabbe’s leadership would enable the NPP to tap into Greater Accra’s extensive influence along Ghana’s coastal belt—from Aflao in the Volta Region to Elubo in the Western Region. This coastal connection could catalyse a revival of NPP support in traditionally challenging areas, contributing to a more balanced national electoral map.
Learning from History: Kufuor’s Strategic Approach
The NPP need not look far for a successful template. During President John Agyekum Kufuor’s administration, with Samuel Odoi-Sykes as party chairman, the NPP implemented deliberate strategies to field candidates from Greater Accra in coastal constituencies. This approach yielded significant electoral dividends, demonstrating that when representation is prioritised, electoral success follows.
By returning to this proven strategy and elevating Sammy Crabbe to the chairmanship, the NPP would be drawing on its own historical successes while adapting to the contemporary political landscape.
The Path Forward: Inclusivity as Electoral Strategy
As the groundswell of support for Sammy Crabbe’s candidacy for National Chairman continues to build, the NPP stands at a crossroads. It can either embrace the opportunity to reinvigorate its appeal in Greater Accra—and by extension, across Ghana’s minority regions—or risk further electoral marginalisation.
The choice is clear: by electing Sammy Crabbe as National Chairman, the NPP would not only be addressing the representation deficit that has contributed to its decline in Greater Accra but also positioning itself as a truly national party that values and reflects the diversity of Ghana’s population.
In the final analysis, the path to an NPP victory in 2028 runs through Greater Accra. With Sammy Crabbe at the helm, the party can reclaim its standing in this vital region, rebuild bridges with minority communities nationwide, and chart a course towards electoral triumph. The message is unequivocal: Sammy Crabbe can indeed deliver Greater Accra to the NPP for victory in 2028—and in doing so, help restore the party to its rightful place in Ghana’s political firmament.
