Flag of the NPP
The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) is facing growing internal debate as its 2028 flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and the newly elected National Executive Committee (NEC) prepare to implement a controversial “candidate-scouting” strategy ahead of the 2028 general elections.
While the party’s leadership has defended the move as a scientific approach to curbing the growing influence of money in internal politics, some grassroots members and political observers fear the strategy could become a backdoor mechanism for promoting preferred candidates and undermine the party’s democratic processes.
A departure from democratic norms
For decades, the NPP has prided itself on its bottom-up democratic structures, through which local delegates play a key role in selecting candidates to represent the party in elections.
However, the newly announced nationwide search for potential candidates across constituencies marks a significant shift in the way the party intends to identify prospective parliamentary candidates.
The strategy involves an independent team identifying popular community leaders, regardless of whether they are active party members or have the financial resources to run a conventional campaign.
Critics argue that introducing centrally identified candidates into local contests could reduce the influence of local delegates and raise questions about the role of the party’s established primary processes.
The justification: the curse of monetisation
The push for candidate scouting follows the party’s assessment of its recent electoral setbacks, which saw its parliamentary representation fall from 137 seats to 88.
Defending the new approach during an address in Kumasi, Dr Bawumia blamed the monetisation of internal primaries for some of the party’s electoral difficulties.
“We are going to do a candidate search across all the constituencies, because some people can win parliamentary primaries because they have money, but they can’t win the general elections,” Dr Bawumia stated. “If you leave it to them, they will win the primary, but you’ve lost the seat.”
The party’s leadership maintains that the search will run alongside its existing primary processes, serving as a means of identifying candidates considered capable of winning constituencies where local dynamics may have affected the party’s electoral performance.
Backdoor selection or strategic salvation?
Despite assurances that the initiative will complement rather than replace the party’s traditional primary system, concerns remain among some members and observers.
Critics argue that determining a candidate’s viability through centrally conducted research, rather than through local party processes, could create opportunities for favouritism or perceived interference.
If the national executive uses its influence to promote candidates identified through the scouting process, some local aspirants could feel sidelined, particularly those who have spent years building relationships and support within their constituencies.
The debate highlights a broader question for the party: can the NPP tackle the influence of money in its internal elections without weakening the role of its delegates in choosing candidates?
A risky gamble for 2028
As the NPP prepares for the 2028 elections, the candidate-scouting strategy represents a significant test for the party’s leadership.
If implemented transparently, the initiative could help the party identify popular community leaders and candidates with strong electoral appeal.
However, if grassroots members perceive the system as an elite-driven process designed to bypass established party structures, it could create resentment among local aspirants and deepen internal divisions.
The success of the strategy may therefore depend not only on the quality of the candidates identified, but also on how transparently the process is conducted and how effectively the party balances its desire to reduce monetisation with its commitment to internal democracy.
Copyright © 1994 - 2026 GhanaWeb. All rights reserved.
