Former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu, has stated that he would think about integrating the dancehall singer into the NPP, citing Shatta Wale’s enormous impact among Ghana’s young as a potent weapon for political outreach.
Speaking on JoyNews on November 11, 2025, Mr Boadu emphasised the increasing significance of youth involvement, especially as young voters are predicted to make up a sizable share of the electorate by 2028.
He pointed out that the NPP’s long-term future depends on engaging the younger generation in ways that complement their interests and culture.
“If possible, why not? You can get other people out as well,”he remarked when asked about the idea of involving Shatta Wale in the party’s activities.When pressed on whether this meant the musician would campaign for the NPP, he clarified, “Not necessarily a hard campaign, but passing through our messages.”
According to Mr. Boadu, the campaign would engage young people where they are—through the social spaces, platforms, and entertainment channels that influence their everyday lives—instead of relying on conventional rallies or official endorsements.
“I am saying it is not even necessary to have them at your rallies. You need to meet them where they are. You need to tap into their interests and not necessarily bring them onto your political platforms,” he said.When considering the 2024 general elections, he admitted that while the NPP used songs like Shatta Wale and King Paluta in their campaign, the strategy was insufficient to have a significant effect.
“You need to do more of that by nurturing these youthful people,” he urged.According to Mr. Boadu, fostering a true sense of inclusion is necessary for effective young involvement, which goes beyond entertainment.He said that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has successfully embraced this strategy in academic and youth settings, pointing out that many young people are looking for recognition and a sense of belonging within the political system rather than appointments or financial incentives.
