A senior member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng has issued a scathing critique of the party’s leadership, accusing the National Executive, the National Executive Council (NEC), and influential power brokers of orchestrating a “top-down” flagbearer election designed to favour former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
In a strongly worded statement, the party member expressed deep concern over what he described as an “orchestrated scheme” to impose a predetermined candidate on the party through manipulation of internal structures and electoral processes. He warned that the NPP is heading toward a “potential disaster” if urgent steps are not taken to restore fairness, transparency, and trust among grassroots supporters.
Concerns Over Election Timing and Internal Processes
According to the critic, the decision by the NPP leadership to hold the flagbearer election in January 2026, nearly three years before the next general election, marks a sharp departure from the party’s tradition of electing a flagbearer two years ahead when in opposition. He alleged that the shift was engineered to benefit a preferred candidate and keep certain national executives in power.
He described the National Executive Council as “spineless,” stating that its members sanctioned a hastily prepared post-election report and adopted procedural changes without consulting the broader party base.
Accusations of Manipulation and Delegates’ Intimidation
The writer repeated longstanding allegations surrounding the 2023–2024 internal elections that led to the selection of Dr. Bawumia as flagbearer. He claimed that government machinery, party resources, and influential figures were deployed to favour the “establishment candidate,” with some delegates allegedly bribed, coerced, or intimidated.
He argued that this approach contributed to significant voter apathy during the December 2024 general elections, ultimately costing the party victory.
“Those who conceptualized and are rolling out the top-down election process will stop at nothing to rig the elections for Dr. Bawumia,” he said. “This fraud must be prevented.”
Criticism of Party Leadership and Elders
The statement also targeted the party’s Council of Elders, suggesting that their silence and inaction have allowed the party to descend into widespread mistrust and division.
“It is unfortunate that the Chairman of the Council of Elders has allowed the party to come to this sorry state,” he wrote, urging a return to the party’s grassroots-driven, bottom-up processes.
He warned that allowing the current National Executive and NEC to supervise the January 2026 flagbearer contest would not provide a level playing field for other aspirants.
Akufo-Addo’s Breakfast Meeting Also Questioned
The critic referenced a widely reported breakfast meeting held by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo with the five NPP presidential aspirants on October 21, 2025. He suggested that the former President’s involvement indicated tacit approval of the controversial election arrangements.
“One cannot muddy the river upstream and then rush downstream to complain that the river is muddy,” he said, describing the act as contradictory and harmful to party unity.
A Call for Delegates to “Reject the Scheme”
In concluding his critique, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng posed two questions to NPP delegates ahead of the January 2026 primaries:
- Whether the party should again entrust its future to individuals accused of neglecting the grassroots and mismanaging the economy.
- Whether the NPP should allow itself to be controlled by a small group of powerful individuals and their associates.
He urged delegates to protect the party’s democratic traditions and reject any process he believes is designed to favour one particular candidate.
“The NPP must be watchful. Don’t fall for diversionary tactics,” he said. “If Dr. Bawumia cannot see the implications of being used, then it is time for the sane majority in the NPP to act.”
A Party at a Crossroads
The sharp critique highlights deepening tensions within the NPP as the January 2026 flagbearer election draws closer. With factions emerging and trust in internal processes reportedly eroding, political observers say the party faces a pivotal test, one that could determine its viability heading into the 2028 general elections.
