Protests Over NPP’s ‘Top-Down’ Election Approach

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is facing a wave of internal resistance over a controversial proposal to reverse its longstanding bottom-up leadership election tradition.

For the first time in the party’s history, a plan has been floated to elect the party’s flagbearer before the selection of national, regional and constituency executives, a departure many are warning could destabilise the party’s foundational structures and alienate its grassroots base.

Dr. Charles Dwamena

Dr. Charles Dwamena, currently serving as the NPP’s National Treasurer, is one of the leading voices rejecting the proposal. He minced no words in his outright condemnation of the idea.

In an interview with an Accra based radio station, Peace FM, he said “I already gave my comments on the top-down approach. I am totally against it. It is a recipe for chaos.”

He further refuted claims that the proposal was unanimously accepted during the party’s National Council meeting, stating that he and several others voiced strong opposition both publicly and within party structures.

Dr. Dwamena emphasized that the proposed change is not a simple scheduling adjustment, but a direct assault on the party’s democratic architecture.

“This isn’t just a process; it is a principle. To alter it is to amputate the very limb that gives the party its footing,” he declared.

He pointed out that the proposal would sidestep essential reforms already agreed upon such as expanding the party’s Electoral College and restructuring key positions at the grassroots level, measures that require proper voting starting from polling stations up to the national level.

Kwabena Frimpong

Kwabena Frimpong, the Deputy Protocol Director of the NPP, echoed similar sentiments. In an open letter dated May 16, 2025 he decried the proposal as a betrayal of the party’s founding principles.

“No one begins building a house by installing the roof before laying the foundation,” he wrote, arguing that reversing the party’s traditional electoral sequence would sideline its grassroots and open the door to manipulation and favoritism.

“Choosing a flagbearer before electing party executives could lead to imposition, damaging transparency and unity,” Mr Frimpong warned.

Boakye Agyarko

Former Energy Minister and NPP flagbearer hopeful, Boakye Agyarko, was equally scathing in his criticism. He described the proposal as “strategically unsound, politically indefensible and organisationally reckless.”

He argued that flagbearer selection without properly elected and functional party structures is a “recipe for disaster” and emphasised the need to consolidate the party’s base before launching into a presidential contest.

Patrick Boamah

Patrick Yaw Boamah, MP for Okaikwei Central, also voiced firm opposition. On The Point of View program on Channel One TV, Boamah warned that the party needed to fix its internal cracks before talking about flagbearer selection.

“Those declaring to be flagbearers what are we standing on?” he questioned, emphasizing that personal ambitions must be secondary to rebuilding the party’s base, restoring discipline and reinforcing credibility.

Speaking later on Citi FM, he added that the top-down proposal would not resolve the increasing apathy among the party’s base. Instead, he advocated for bottom-up engagement to enhance ownership and legitimacy.

Kennedy Agyapong

Former MP and outspoken NPP presidential hopeful, Kennedy Agyapong, minced no words during the June 21, 2025 NPP Constituency Chairmen Conference. He warned that the party was about to repeat past mistakes by concentrating too much power at the top.

“There is nothing wrong with the system that we have. It’s because we created monsters in the party. You bring it from the top again, we are going to create another monster,” he warned.

He emphasised that if the grassroots structures are not fixed, even the most capable flagbearer will be powerless to lead the party to victory in 2028.

Addai-Nimoh and Palgrave Boakye-Danquah

Engineer Francis Addai-Nimoh, a former MP and 2024 flagbearer aspirant also weighed in on Asaase Radio, suggesting that the timeline for the flagbearer election should be reconsidered.

“It must not undermine the rest of the party’s structures,” he warned.

Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, former government spokesperson, reinforced the discontent. Speaking to ‘Citi Newsroom’, he noted that the proposed reforms are “unpopular among NPP grassroots” and could undermine internal party democracy.

K.K Serbeh

Lawyer K.K Serbeh, another senior member of the party made it clear that the proposed reversal of the electoral structure is flawed.

“Some of us do not agree to the top-down approach. We are not against early congress elections but we must first fix the base roots. The flagbearer has a lot of work to do but he needs strong roots to stand on,” he said.

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