Tarkwa-Nsuaem: NPP Executives boycott election committee inauguration

There is growing tension within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency of the Western Region following disagreements over the composition of a Polling Station Elections Committee, with some constituency executives boycotting its inauguration over alleged breaches of party guidelines.

Dissatisfied executives argue that the process used in forming the committee violated internal party rules and appeared to favour certain individuals, a situation they say risks deepening divisions within the constituency.

Speaking to the media, constituency executive Kwadwo Antiedu Kwarteng described the process as flawed and deliberately skewed.

He argued that the exclusion of key party actors raised concerns about fairness and transparency.

According to him, “the decision to ignore some former constituency executives, assemblymen associated to the party, former Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and polling station executives but rather fill the committees with some young men… aligned to some individuals in the party as opinion leaders is disingenuous and an act that only seeks to undermine the process and create chaos.”

He further cited specific electoral areas, alleging irregular appointments.

“You appoint staff of Mireku Duker as election committee member and christen them opinion leaders, knowing very well that the same people created chaos even during the polling station registration, is a bad decision,” he added.

The aggrieved executives, including Augustine Quaicoe (Constituency Organiser), Frank Gyemfi (2nd Vice Chairman), and Kwadwo Antiedu Kwarteng (Financial Secretary), have since petitioned the national leadership of the New Patriotic Party to dissolve and reconstitute the committees.

In their petition, they argue that the process breached mandatory internal procedures. It states that, “Contrary to the express provisions of the Party’s guidelines, the Constituency Secretary… unilaterally selected individuals who do not fall within the categories envisaged by the regulations.”

They also contend that no proper executive meeting was held to approve the appointments.

“No meeting of the Constituency Executive Committee was convened to deliberate upon or approve the selection of the Electoral Area Elections Committee members,” the petition noted.

The petition further alleges that the Regional Secretary admitted procedural lapses during the inauguration, stating that he “exerted pressure… to hastily submit names due to time constraints,” which, according to the document, resulted in “the abandonment of due process.”

It also highlights inconsistencies in the names presented, saying “names presented at the inauguration differed from previously known submissions, and this was done without any consultation or approval by the appropriate Party organs.”

The aggrieved executives are asking the national leadership to intervene decisively. Among their key demands are that the party “declare the composition and inauguration of the Electoral Area Elections Committee in Tarkwa-Nsuaem null and void” and “order the immediate cancellation of the said Committee.”

They further want a properly constituted process to be restarted in line with party rules and for disciplinary measures to be considered where necessary.

In a strongly worded conclusion, the petition warns that failure to adhere to internal rules threatens party cohesion, stating, “Any deviation from these principles, particularly under the guise of urgency, poses a significant threat to unity and electoral success.”

The national leadership of the NPP is yet to officially respond to the petition.