There is growing confusion within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency of the Western Region over the elections committee.
Some constituency executives, as a result, boycotted the inauguration of the party’s polling station elections committee over alleged breaches of the party’s guidelines for the formation of such committees.
They contend that the breaches were constitutional and a deliberate attempt to stampede the process in favour of some preferred persons within the constituency.
Speaking to the media, Kwadwo Antiedu Kwarteng explained that the decision to ignore some former constituency executives, assemblymen associated with the party, former Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCES), and polling station executives, but rather fill the committees with some young polling station executives aligned to certain individuals and presented as opinion leaders, is disingenuous and an act that seeks to undermine the process and create chaos.
He cited an example of places like Cyanide and Kwabedu electoral areas. “You appoint staff of Mireku Duker as election committee members and christen them opinion leaders, knowing very well that the same people created chaos even during the polling station registration, is a bad decision,” he said.
The NPP executive further alleged that the move is deliberately intended to disqualify persons who are not openly supportive of certain individuals, adding that it will only create confusion in an exercise that seeks to build the party.
The dissatisfied members have now petitioned the party at the national level to dissolve the committees and have them properly reconstituted.
The petition, signed by Augustine Quaicoe, the Constituency Organiser; Frank Gyemfi, Second Vice Chairman; and Kwadwo Antiedu Kwarteng, the Financial Secretary, explained that the setting up of the committees did not follow the NPP’s guidelines. It added that their decision to petition the party’s national leadership follows the failure to resolve the issue at the constituency and regional levels.
Mr Kwadwo Antiedu Kwarteng called on the national executives of the NPP not to see the petition as an expression of minority dissent but a principled call for fidelity to party rules. “The Party must not be allowed to collapse on the altar of extreme autocracy disguised as expediency or majority will,” he cautioned.
Meanwhile, the petition noted that:
“Contrary to the express provisions of the Party’s guidelines, the Constituency Secretary, Mr Fuseni Amadu, acting in concert with certain associates, unilaterally selected individuals who do not fall within the categories envisaged by the regulations…
No meeting of the Constituency Executive Committee was convened to deliberate upon or approve the selection of the Electoral Area Elections Committee members.
Persons who are merely aligned to particular interests at the polling station level were improperly designated as ‘opinion leaders’ and presented as members of the Committee, thereby circumventing the intent and letter of the guidelines.
At the inauguration of the Committee, the Regional Secretary, Mr Henry Amankwa Afrifa, openly admitted that he exerted pressure on the Constituency Secretary and the Regional representative to hastily submit names due to time constraints, after failing to comply with the guidelines to submit the names at least four days before the opening of nominations, hence resulting in the abandonment of due process.
Furthermore, the names presented at the inauguration differed from previously submitted ones, and this was done without any consultation or approval from the appropriate party organs.
The Constituency Organiser formally raised concerns with both constituency and regional leadership; however, no lawful or satisfactory resolution was provided.”
For these reasons, the petitioners want the party to declare the committees null and void and reconstitute them.
Below is the petition
The General Secretary
New Patriotic Party
Headquarters
Accra
Cc: Director of Legal
Cc : The National Chairman
DATE: 23rd April, 2026
SUBJECT: FORMAL PETITION FOR NULLIFICATION AND RECONSTITUTION OF ELECTORAL AREA ELECTIONS COMMITTEE – TARKWA-NSUAEM CONSTITUENCY
1. INTRODUCTION
We, the undersigned, being officers and committed members of the Party in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency, respectfully petition your high office for urgent intervention in relation to grave procedural irregularities and breaches of the Party’s Rules and Regulations governing the constitution of Electoral Area Elections Committees.
This petition has become necessary following repeated but unsuccessful efforts to have these concerns and many infractions addressed at both the constituency and regional levels.
2. LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
We respectfully draw your attention to the Rules and Regulations for Polling station Elections Committee
The Polling Station Elections shall be conducted by three (3)member Polling Station Elections Committees across the Constituency within the scheduled dates.
. The Polling Station Elections Committees for each Constituency shall be appointed by the Constituency Executive Committee and
the Regional Steering Committee provided they are registered Party Members in the Constituency where they are to conduct theelections.
• The Constituency Executive Committee shall furnish the Regional
Steering Committee and the National Secretariat with the list of the Polling Station Election Committees at least one (1) week before the opening of nominations for the Polling Election
These provisions are mandatory and are designed to ensure transparency, fairness, and institutional accountability.
3. STATEMENT OF FACTS
3.1 Contrary to the express provisions of the Party’s guidelines, the Constituency Secretary, Mr. Fuseni Amadu, acting in concert with certain associates, unilaterally selected individuals who do not fall within the categories envisaged by the regulations.
3.2 No meeting of the Constituency Executive Committee was convened to deliberate upon or approve the selection of the Electoral Area Elections Committee members.
3.3 Persons who are merely aligned to particular interests at the polling station level were improperly designated as “opinion leaders” and presented as members of the Committee, thereby circumventing the intent and letter of the guidelines.
3.4 At the inauguration of the Committee, the Regional Secretary, Mr. Henry Amankwa Afrifa, openly admitted that he exerted pressure on the Constituency Secretary and the Regional representative to hastily submit names due to time constraints, after failing to comply with the guidelines to submit the names at least 4 days before opening of nomination hence resulting in the abandonment of due process.
3.5 Furthermore, names presented at the inauguration differed from previously known submissions, and this was done without any consultation or approval by the appropriate Party organs.
3.6 The Constituency Organiser formally raised concerns with both constituency and regional leadership; however, no lawful or satisfactory resolution was provided.
4. ISSUES FOR DETERMINATION
From the foregoing, the following issues arise for determination:
• Whether the Polling Station Elections Committee in Tarkwa-Nsuaem was constituted in accordance with the Party’s Rules and Regulations;
• Whether the failure to convene a Constituency Executive Committee meeting invalidates the selection process;
• Whether “urgency” can lawfully justify non-compliance with mandatory procedural requirements;
• Whether the inauguration of the Committee, under the circumstances, is valid and sustainable.
5. ARGUMENTS
5.1 It is a well-established principle of organizational governance that where a procedure is prescribed by rules, failure to comply renders the resulting act null and void.
5.2 The complete omission of the Constituency Executive Committee from the selection process constitutes a fundamental procedural defect that cannot be cured by subsequent actions.
5.3 The justification of urgency, as admitted by the Regional Secretary, cannot override mandatory provisions of the Party’s regulations. Expediency must not supplant legality.
5.4 The substitution of qualified categories of persons with improperly designated individuals undermines the integrity, credibility, and fairness of the electoral process.
5.5 The cumulative effect of these breaches points to a pattern of unilateralism and procedural disregard that threatens internal democracy and Party cohesion.
6. LOSS OF CONFIDENCE
We respectfully state that we have lost confidence in:
• The Constituency Chairman, Mr. Benjamin Assabill, for failing to exercise oversight and assert leadership;
• The Constituency Secretary, Mr. Fuseni Amadu, for acting outside the bounds of established procedures;
• The Regional Secretary, Mr. Henry Amankwa Afrifa, and the Regional representative, Kwame Armah for condoning and facilitating procedural breaches.
7. RELIEFS SOUGHT
In view of the above, we respectfully pray that the National Secretariat:
1. Declare the composition and inauguration of the Electoral Area Elections Committee in Tarkwa-Nsuaem null and void;
2. Order the immediate cancellation of the said Committee;
3. Direct that a properly constituted Constituency Executive Committee meeting be convened to select eligible members strictly in accordance with Party guidelines;
4. Ensure strict compliance with the Rules and Regulations governing Electoral Area Elections;
5. Take appropriate administrative or disciplinary measures where necessary to safeguard the integrity of the Party’s processes.
8. CONCLUSION
The strength of the Party lies in its adherence to rules, fairness, and collective responsibility. Any deviation from these principles, particularly under the guise of urgency, poses a significant threat to unity and electoral success.
We therefore respectfully urge your office to act decisively and expeditiously to restore procedural integrity and confidence in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency.
SIGNED:
• Augustine Quaicoe – Constituency Organiser
• Frank Gyemfi – 2nd Vice Chairman
• Kwadwo Antiedu Kwarteng
Financial Secretary
