Tensions within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) spilled into the open on Friday when lawyer and former District Assembly Common Fund Administrator, Irene Naa Torshie Addo, was forced out of a party delegates’ meeting in Nsawam-Adoagyiri in the Eastern Region, following controversial remarks targeting former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on religious grounds.

The incident occurred during a gathering of party delegates linked to the campaign activities of former Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, ahead of the NPP’s January 31, 2026 presidential primary.

Irene Naa Torshie, who has openly aligned herself with Kennedy Agyapong’s camp after previously endorsing Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in 2024, was addressing delegates on why she believed the former Vice President should not be supported in the party’s future leadership race.

According to eyewitness accounts, her speech took a sharp turn when she framed her argument around religion, claiming the NPP was a “Christian party” and asserting that Ghana should not be led by a Muslim.

She warned delegates that a Muslim president would negatively affect Christian families, comments that immediately angered party members present at the meeting.

Her remarks triggered loud noise from delegates, many of whom interrupted her mid-speech and demanded an immediate retraction.

Party officials and delegates warned that she would not be allowed to continue addressing the gathering if she failed to withdraw what they described as divisive and dangerous statements.

Irene Naa Torshie reportedly refused to retract her comments, leading to heightened tension and the abrupt end of the meeting.

As tempers flared and the situation threatened to spiral out of control, police officers were called to the venue.

The police subsequently escorted Naa Torshie and members of her campaign team out of the constituency to restore calm.

A Shift From Endorsement To Confrontation

The confrontation marks the latest chapter in Naa Torshie’s turbulent relationship with Dr. Bawumia and the NPP leadership.

In 2024, she publicly endorsed Dr Mahamudu Bawumia after he emerged as the party’s presidential candidate and was widely reported to have lobbied for the running mate position.

However, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (Napo) was eventually selected, a decision that party insiders say left her deeply dissatisfied.

Following that setback, Naa Torshie distanced herself from Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s camp and later aligned with Kennedy Agyapong’s faction.

Since then, she has become one of the Vice President’s most vocal internal critics, repeatedly accusing his camp of sidelining her and questioning his suitability to lead the party.

Her comments in Nsawam-Adoagyiri, however, have drawn sharp condemnation even from within her own party, with many NPP supporters warning that religious and ethnic campaigning poses a serious threat to party unity and the long-standing tradition of religious tolerance.

Calls For Leadership Intervention

The incident has reignited calls for the NPP national leadership to urgently intervene and rein in aspirants and their campaign teams as the primaries approach.

Senior party members and grassroots supporters alike have urged all contenders to publicly commit to issue-based campaigning and to avoid exploiting religion or ethnicity for political gain.

Political analysts warn that failure to address such conduct could deepen internal divisions within the party and damage its public image ahead of the 2028 general elections.