Corruption , Greed et al among others led NPP to opposition

THE Ashanti regional founding members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have stated that corruption ,greediness among other challenges led the New Patriotic Party (NPP) into opposition.

They have also called for the annulment of the delegate system within the party,as the NPP embarks on introspection exercise to unravel the humiliating defeat of the NPP in the 2024 General Elections.

In a statement issued in Kumasi, under the signatories of Mr Kofi Obiri Yeboah and Kofi Nsia Amponsah – Chairman and Secretary of the group respectively –, raised concerns about a number of issues , which they believe led to the defeat of the party in the elections.

Delegate System

According to the group, the delegate system of the party , whereby a group of people are allowed to choose Members of Parliament is hampering the fortunes of the NPP since it breeds bribery and corruption.
“The process where a few members select party leaders for the greater majority . This cuts across all party internal elections and has its attendant negative tendencies including bribery and corruption leading to monetisation within the party elections.
It has therefore asked authorities to embark on a massive member registration and thereby empowering all card-bearing members in good standing to vote in NPP primary elections.

Apathy

Reminising apathy antecedents in the annals of the NPP,the Ashanti regional NPP founding fathers , argued that anytime the party suffers from apathy in a general election , the party loses the polls.

“The party suffered some form of apathy in 2008 and the worst form of it in 2024. Anytime apathy sets in among party members and sympathizers ,we move in straight into opposition. Let us find out the real causes of this canker and uproot it completely.

Imposition of Candidates on Delegates

The worried group accused some NPP leaders of deploying weird tactics of foisting candidates on delegates.

“Leaders at the top of the party hierarchy through trickery and bullying impose their preferred candidates ,especially during parliamentary primaries on the delegates and through a so called MAFIA system ,all those standing in the way are booted out of the delegates album. The elections for the polling stations executives lack transparency and need reforms. Where the contest is tough such preferred choices are declared unopposed.

Greed

The founding members observed that many are campaign leaders who were on a mission of personal aggrandising.

“Most of the campaign team leaders took the position for their own personal gains. Various sums of monies were distributed to these self-seeking individuals for specific tasks but out of greed pocketed the monies and left the tasks undone.

Internal Party Disputes ;Arrogance and Abuse of Power

According to the group, there was a conspicious internal party disputes from the national to the constituencies.

“It was also observed with dismay the rampant internal disputes in the party from the national level to the constituencies to the detriment of the smooth running of the party structures.“

Arrogance was at its peak among party chairmen and political appointees that created a distance between them and the grassroot members, the elderly, and former appointees. All these contributed to the abysmal performance at the polls. The above and many critical issues that cannot be discussed here must be identified and addressed.

Proffering solution to the above challenge , the Ashanti regional NPP founding members implored the leadership of the party to be all inclusive in their selection, appointment or election of review committee members.

In an assertion registering their displeasure about how they are being treated by the party, the aged NPP association expressed worry about neglect from the party, disclosing that having risked their lives during the revolutionary days of Ghana in the name of the NPP,the party has sidelined them.

“The founding Fathers who risked their lives in the revolutionary period to register the party have been sidelined all these years , and must now be included in all the decision makin processes of the party.” The Ashanti regional NPP Founding members asked .

”It is said that an organization, country or party that does not honor its heroes is not worth dying for.

According to the group,the task is enormous but not insurmountable hence they should take the bull by the horn and work together for the betterment of the NPP.

FROM Richard Owusu-Akyaw