Some youth groups affiliated with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have called for improved cooperation between government appointees, party executives and grassroots supporters, warning that internal divisions could undermine the party’s chances in the 2024 general elections.
The call follows concerns over tensions that characterised the party’s recent constituency elections, during which violence and disputes were reported in several parts of the country.
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The groups argued that unhealthy rivalry among Regional Ministers, Regional Chairmen, Constituency Executives and party foot soldiers had previously contributed to the NPP’s poor parliamentary performance in the closely contested 2020 general elections.
During the constituency elections, violence was recorded in areas including Okaikoi South in the Greater Accra Region, Subin in the Ashanti Region, Krachi Nchumuru in the Oti Region and Yendi in the Northern Region, resulting in heightened security deployment. Some elections were postponed, while others were suspended following court injunctions over disputes relating to voter registers and alleged electoral irregularities.
In interviews, youth groups, including the Young Elephants and the Young Patriots, urged party leaders to prioritise unity and stronger collaboration at all levels to improve the NPP’s electoral prospects.
They cautioned that continued divisions between government officials and the party’s grassroots could jeopardise the party’s efforts to retain power.
The Savannah Regional Young Patriots also appealed to delegates to retain incumbent regional chairmen who they said had contributed to increased parliamentary representation and improved presidential vote margins during the 2020 elections.
According to the group, maintaining experienced regional leadership would strengthen the party’s campaign to “Break the 8” by securing a third consecutive electoral victory and enable a successor to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to build on his administration’s achievements.
The renewed calls follow findings from an earlier survey conducted by the Coalition for Electoral Reforms, Africa, which suggested that strained relationships between Regional Ministers and Regional Chairmen could negatively affect the NPP’s electoral performance.
The survey found that Regional Chairmen generally enjoyed stronger relationships with constituency executives and party foot soldiers than Regional Ministers.
Among the regions assessed, Bono Regional Chairman Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC, recorded the highest approval rating of 74 per cent, while Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, scored 60 per cent.
The findings also indicated varying levels of support for party leaders across the Northern, Savannah, Greater Accra, Ahafo and Volta regions, highlighting the importance of stronger internal cohesion as the party prepares for future elections.
