Calls for massive reforms in the New Patriotic Party (NPP), especially regarding the expansion of the party’s electoral college, continue to heighten ahead of the party’s national delegates conference which comes off this weekend in Accra.
Speaking to the Daily Statesman in Techiman, a former Bono East Regional Minister, Kwasi Adu Gyan, stated that what was most important was how to build a strong, robust and winnable party machinery.
To this end, Mr. Adu Gyan, who is also a former Regional Chairman of the party, has put forward some proposals for consideration by the upcoming conference with the view to deepening inclusiveness and strengthening the party machinery and recapture political power in 2028 and beyond.
No top-down approach
Mr. Adu Gyan expressed his disagreement to the decision to elect a flagbearer in January next year, ahead of the election of a new crop of party executives, describing the decision as very unfortunate.
In his view, the party should consider the early election of new executives from national to polling station by December, one year to the end of their term of office.
“If the party’s constitution gives room for a year to be added to their term sometimes, then it shouldn’t also be difficult to take one year off from them,” he suggested.
“The party must build its structures, and I also believe that there is the urgent need for strong dynamic leadership to hold everyone together in this trying time in our history,” he emphasised.
Electoral college expansion
As a founding member, Mr. Adu Gyan is of the view that the current electoral college should be used for the elections of the flagbearer and party executives from the national to polling station levels.
He strongly believes that persons who have served in various positions/offices/committees and organs of the party since 1992, and owe allegiance to the party, as well as persons who have served in various appointed positions under an NPP government, and owe allegiance to the party, must be included in the party’s electoral college, going forward.
Mr. Adu Gyan further proposes that all parliamentary and presidential candidates of the party from 1992, who still owe allegiance to the party, all Assembly members who are members of the NPP, past and present, and the executives of the party’s external branches in the diaspora from 1992 should all be included in the electoral college.
Other categories of people he wants to participate in all election processes in the party are TESCON/TESCONA, past and present, since the formation of the tertiary organ, patrons and council of elders, paid up members who do not belong to any of the categories defined and have had a minimum of one year history of dues payment. He posits that the historical payments clause will measure allegiance and prevent opposing party infiltration.
- Story by Richard Kofi Boahen, Techiman
