News desk report
Politician, businessman and philanthropist Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah(COKA) has unveiled ambitious plan to expand his community engagement beyond church visits to include mosques, associations, and various community groups across the Ashanti Region, signaling a broad-based approach to grassroots politics.
The former Afigya Kwabre South Constituency Chairman of the New Patriotic Party(NPP), who has been visible visiting churches on Sundays with his COKA family, revealed that the religious outreach will soon be extended to other faith communities.
“Yes, very soon, you will see us visiting the mosque and other religious groups. In fact, I have a plan to scale up the visit to all other groups and associations within the region,” he disclosed.
The comprehensive engagement strategy goes beyond traditional religious institutions to encompass a wide spectrum of community organizations. “We will even visit keep fit clubs, communities, and many other groupings,” COKA explained, demonstrating an inclusive approach to political engagement that recognizes the diversity of social structures in the region.
He articulated a clear rationale for this expanded community engagement, emphasizing the importance of grassroots connection and understanding community concerns.
“The idea is to touch base with the people. Share ideas and to know the issues affecting the groups and the people,” he stated, positioning the visits as listening exercises rather than mere political theatre.
The strategy also demonstrates political inclusivity, acknowledging that effective representation in a diverse region like Ashanti requires engagement across religious, social, and cultural lines. This comprehensive approach could serve COKA well in his anticipated bid for regional party leadership, where understanding and representing diverse constituencies is essential.
The planned expansion of community visits comes at a strategic time as the NPP rebuilds its grassroots structures following the 2024 electoral defeat.
His philanthropic work during the Christmas season, where the COKA family identified and visited people in need, provides a foundation for this broader engagement strategy. “I am from a humble beginning. I was trained to share the little I had. So this Christmas for instance, the COKA family identified few people who may be in need and we visited them to share the little we have,” he explained, demonstrating consistency between his charitable work and political engagement.
Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, who shared the above views in an interview with Abusua fm in kumasi, expressed confidence in the party’s on going re organisation process predicting that NPP will bounce back stronger.
” So far, the campaign messages going into January 31, election has been heated. Indeed, passionate campaigning is natural in a competitive race. Yes, the NPP is going through some challenges. But like in all organisations, you go through challenges at one point. The NDC had theirs when they lost the 2016 elections.
” Look, the NPP l know is a spirit. It is just a matter of time we will unite to contest 2028 elections .”
He also took the opportunity to urge party members to maintain respect for differing opinions and preferences.
