By Desmond Cudjoe
Deep divisions appear to be emerging within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency, as a group of party elders has publicly accused a former Member of Parliament of attempting to undermine internal party guidelines and handpick preferred executives.
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, the elders expressed “deep concern” over the ongoing membership registration exercise and preparations for the election of polling station executives.
They warned that the party is experiencing a steady decline in what was once considered a stronghold.
According to a statement signed by several elders in the constituency and read by former constituency secretary Bosco Kofi Naakai, the NPP is witnessing a “worrying downward trend” in its electoral fortunes.
The elders pointed out that the party lost both the presidential and parliamentary seats in the constituency for the first time in the history of Ghana’s Fourth Republic during the 2024 Ghana general election.
They attributed the development to what they described as a gradual departure from the party’s core principles of internal democracy, fairness and respect for grassroots structures.
The elders’ main concern centres on the alleged conduct of the immediate past Member of Parliament for the area, George Mireku Duker.
According to them, comments attributed to the former MP contradict the official guidelines issued by the party’s National Executive Committee of the New Patriotic Party and the National Council of the New Patriotic Party governing the ongoing registration process.
Among the claims cited by the elders are that Mr Duker allegedly suggested that some people could register at the party office instead of their respective polling stations. The statement also alleged that he indicated the constituency chairman would determine who qualifies to contest internal elections, and that polling station executives might be selected rather than elected.
“If these assertions are accurate, they directly contradict the directives of the national party and undermine the integrity of the ongoing organisational process,” the statement said.
The elders also highlighted what they described as several procedural irregularities in the constituency.
They claimed that in some electoral areas, the dates, venues and times for polling station meetings had not been properly communicated to party members. They further alleged that official membership registers had not been handed over to the rightful electoral area coordinators, particularly those perceived not to be aligned with certain individuals within the party.
According to the statement, some registers are allegedly being distributed from private residences, while in other instances coordinators are said to have refused to release them.
“As elders of this great party, many of us have dedicated decades of sacrifice, commitment and personal resources to building and sustaining the New Patriotic Party in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency,” the statement said.
“We cannot stand by unconcerned while actions that contributed to the weakening of the party are repeated.”
The elders are calling on the regional and national leadership of the party to urgently intervene and ensure strict adherence to the official guidelines governing the process in the constituency.
They also vowed not to allow what they described as attempts by the former MP and some aligned executives to influence the outcome of the internal elections.
“We wish to state emphatically that we shall not allow the former MP and his aligned executives to handpick their preferred persons as executives of the party,” the statement said.
The elders further urged the constituency executive committee to assert its authority and ensure that all party processes follow constitutionally mandated procedures.
“No individual, regardless of past position or influence, has the authority to unilaterally impose procedures that contradict the official guidelines of the party,” the statement added.
