Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, popularly known as COKA, has been elected as the new Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) after securing a decisive victory in the party’s regional elections.
COKA polled 658 votes to win the closely contested chairmanship race held on Saturday, August 15, 2026. His main contender, Dr Henry Kwabena Kokofu, obtained 269 votes.
The result gives COKA a significant mandate to lead the NPP’s regional structures in the Ashanti Region, one of the party’s most important political strongholds.
COKA entered the contest with considerable confidence and had previously expressed optimism about securing a convincing victory. His final margin of 389 votes reflected the strong support he received from delegates.
Kokofu, who previously served as the Member of Parliament for Bantama and later as Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency, was unable to match COKA’s support during the election.
Following his victory, COKA called for unity within the NPP, signalling his intention to bring members together as he begins his tenure as regional chairman.
His election comes at an important period for the opposition party as it works to reorganise its structures and strengthen its grassroots organisation.
The Ashanti Region holds particular significance for the NPP because of its longstanding support for the party. As regional chairman, COKA will therefore have an important responsibility in coordinating party activities, mobilising supporters and maintaining cohesion among members across the region.
The new chairman will also be expected to work with constituency executives, party representatives and other stakeholders to improve coordination within the regional structure.
The decisive nature of the result could give COKA considerable authority as he begins his leadership, although maintaining unity among supporters of the various candidates will remain an important task.
The election also demonstrates the competitive nature of internal party politics, with delegates ultimately choosing between two candidates with different backgrounds and experiences.
For COKA, the immediate challenge will be to translate his electoral victory into effective leadership and strengthen cooperation within the party’s regional structures.
His call for unity could therefore become a central theme of his administration as he assumes responsibility for leading the NPP in the Ashanti Region.
The outcome is expected to attract significant attention from party members and political observers because of the strategic importance of the region to the NPP.
Source: Thepressradio.com
