NPP tightens internal discipline ahead of presidential primaries

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has issued a new directive aimed at ensuring discipline, transparency, and fairness in the lead-up to its much-anticipated presidential primaries.

The move, announced through a formal circular from the party’s National Secretariat, seeks to streamline campaign activities and communication among presidential aspirants, regional executives, and official party communicators.

In a statement signed by the Acting National Chairman, Mr. Danquah Smith Buttey, the NPP reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining “fairness, inclusivity, and transparency” in the conduct of the internal contest, warning that any breach of the new rules would attract disciplinary sanctions.

According to the directive, all presidential aspirants are now required to formally notify their respective regional party executives of their campaign itineraries before embarking on any tour or political engagement within a region.

This measure, the party explained, is to ensure effective coordination and to prevent confusion or overlapping activities that could strain local party structures.

In addition, each regional party office has been instructed to assign one regional officer to accompany every presidential aspirant during their regional tour.

The designated officer is to observe, document, and file a comprehensive report on the aspirant’s engagements, which will then be submitted to the National Secretariat for administrative review.

This, the party leadership noted, would promote accountability and provide a transparent record of each aspirant’s activities across the country.

Another significant aspect of the directive targets the conduct of party-appointed communicators, who have been barred from using NPP-affiliated media platforms to campaign for or against any presidential aspirant.

The statement made it clear that any communicator found flouting this rule will face immediate suspension from representing the party on any platform, alongside further disciplinary measures as stipulated in the NPP constitution.

The directive, which has been copied to all National Executives, Regional and Constituency Committees, Members of Parliament, and the National Council of Elders, underscores the leadership’s determination to maintain internal harmony and party unity as the NPP heads toward a critical internal election.

This development comes at a crucial time when internal competition is intensifying among key figures within the party seeking to succeed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the NPP’s next presidential candidate for the 2028 elections.