New Patriotic Party (NPP) members in Ghana’s Asante Mampong Constituency are strongly opposing the planned restart of their polling station executive elections. These elections were previously stopped on May 14. The party members claim that the reasons the first attempt failed are still not fixed. They believe the electoral process is being manipulated.
A group of concerned members held a press conference to voice their worries. Their spokesperson, Isaac Owusu Acheampong, stated that an unapproved voter register is being used. He also pointed to a lack of clarity in how the elections are being managed. Furthermore, Mr. Acheampong noted a surprising decrease in the number of polling stations expected to participate in the rescheduled vote on May 31, 2026. He explained that party politics starts at the local polling station level. If this foundation is unfair, the whole party structure suffers.
These internal party elections are crucial for the NPP's structure and future leadership. Polling station executives are the first step in a long chain of party leadership. These elected individuals then choose coordinators, then constituency leaders, and eventually national leaders. The Mampong constituency has 145 polling stations. Each station should elect seven executives. This means over 1,000 people are involved in direct elections. These are the same people who vote in party primaries to select parliamentary candidates.
A major point of disagreement is the voter register. Mr. Acheampong claims constituency executives created a new register in PDF format. This new list is different from the party's official register. He warned that many eligible party members might be blocked from voting. Meetings were held with party leaders and Ashanti Region police commanders to solve this issue. An agreement was reached: both the original and the new register should be available. This would allow verification if a member’s name was missing from one list. However, Mr. Acheampong stated this agreement wasn't fully followed before the suspension on May 14. Some elections proceeded without the original register, violating the agreed process.
The group also questioned the reduced scope of the May 31 elections. Only two of the 145 polling stations had completed their elections successfully before the halt. This leaves 143 stations needing to vote. The group was surprised to hear that only about 70 stations would now hold elections. They feel there is no clear reason for excluding the other stations. Fairness requires the election process to be the same for all polling stations and follow party rules.
Allegations of intimidation and frustration have also surfaced. Some party members feel threatened during elections. Mr. Acheampong stated that multiple official complaints to constituency and regional party leaders have gone unanswered. They have sent three petitions to the regional executives without any response. This lack of dialogue fuels further distrust.
The dispute highlights potential weaknesses in election management within political parties. Such internal conflicts can affect public perception. They can also impact the party's ability to mobilize effectively for national elections. The integrity of the voter register is paramount in any democratic process. A compromised process at the local level can undermine confidence in the broader political system.