A group of concerned members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Asante Mampong Constituency of the Ashanti Region has opposed plans to resume polling station executive elections on May 31, 2026, citing unresolved issues that led to the suspension of the exercise earlier this month.
Addressing a press conference in Mampong, one of the spokespersons for the group, Isaac Owusu Acheampong, alleged that the electoral process had been compromised by the use of an unapproved voter register, a lack of transparency, and what he described as an unexplained reduction in the number of polling stations scheduled for the rescheduled exercise.
“The way we do our politics, it builds up from the polling stations. From there, you go to the coordinators, then to the constituency, and upwards to the national level. But if you allow yourself to be cheated at the polling station level, that is the end of you,” he told journalists.
The polling station elections were halted on May 14 following disagreements over the voter register to be used and concerns raised by some party members about the conduct of the process.
According to Mr. Acheampong, the Asante Mampong Constituency has 145 polling stations, with each expected to elect seven executives. He stressed that polling station elections form the foundation of the party’s organisational structure and must therefore be conducted fairly and transparently.
“When you look at Mampong, we have 145 polling stations. You multiply by seven, you are talking about over a thousand people. And these are the very people who will elect MPs during the primaries,” he stated.
Concerns over voter register
A major source of contention, he said, is the voter register being used for the elections.
Mr. Acheampong alleged that constituency executives generated a new register in PDF format instead of relying on the party’s original register, adding that there were significant discrepancies between the two documents. He warned that some eligible members could be excluded if only the generated register is used.
He disclosed that meetings involving party stakeholders and security officials, including police commanders in the Ashanti North area, were held to resolve the impasse.
According to him, stakeholders agreed that both the original and generated registers should be used to enable verification where a member’s name is not found in one.
However, he alleged that the agreement was not fully implemented before the suspension of the elections.
Mr. Acheampong further claimed that some polling station elections held before the suspension were conducted without the original register, contrary to the agreed guidelines.
Questions over scope of May 31 elections
The group also raised concerns about reports that the rescheduled elections would be conducted in only about 70 polling stations out of 145.
According to Mr. Acheampong, only two polling stations had completed their elections before the suspension on May 14, leaving 143 outstanding.
“They have done two out of 145, and now they are saying they are going to do only 70. We have not done anything,” he said.
He questioned the basis for the decision and said party members had not received adequate explanations regarding the exclusion of the remaining polling stations.
Allegations of intimidation and lack of response
Mr. Acheampong also alleged that some members felt intimidated during internal electoral processes and claimed repeated petitions to constituency and regional executives had gone unanswered.
“We informed the executives and received no response. We wrote a first petition to the region—no response. A second—no response. A third—still no response,” he said.
Some members at the press conference also expressed frustration, warning that unresolved disputes could deepen internal divisions.
“We have seen that they just want to cheat us, and we will not sit down for that,” one member said.
Threat of boycott
Mr. Acheampong disclosed that many prospective contestants—estimated at over 1,000 across the constituency—had been advised by supporters not to participate in the elections until their concerns are addressed.
He suggested that some may boycott the exercise if issues relating to the voter register and procedures remain unresolved.
“We remain loyal to the NPP”
Despite their concerns, the group stressed that they remain loyal members of the NPP.
“We don’t have any other party. We are with the party,” Mr. Acheampong said.
Call for intervention
The group is calling on the national and regional leadership of the NPP to intervene and ensure the elections are conducted in line with party guidelines.
They argue that resolving the dispute will restore confidence, strengthen unity in the constituency, and prevent further tensions.
At the time of filing this report, constituency executives had not publicly responded to the allegations.
