In an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) member revealed that he contested the party’s Chairmanship position not because he needed the role but to get closer to Akufo-Addo and guide him on key decisions.

He explained, “I contested as the National Chairman just to get close to the President because I didn’t even need the position for anything, but only 18 people in the party saw the truth.”

However, after his defeat, Akufo-Addo’s cousin, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, informed him that he had missed a significant opportunity to become the EC Chair.

Dr. Baah recalled, “One time I spoke to Gabby and he asked me why I contested for the National Chairmanship because they were considering making me the Electoral Commissioner, but my participation in the election thwarted it.”

Dr. Baah expressed disappointment, questioning whether party decisions should be determined by only a select few, asking, “Is that to suggest we only do what a few want in the party?”

On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, Dr. Baah announced that he had resigned from the NPP, citing frustration with the party’s leadership and its failure to connect with ordinary supporters.

He also hinted at the formation of a new political party, the New Patriotic Front (NPF), claiming that the initiative already has support from about 36 NPP stalwarts.

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To him, the Council has failed on its core mandate to advise the President on appointments and certain key issues.

“The mess we’ve all found ourselves in is because of the conduct of the Council of State. They’re not doing their jobs well. If the Council of State advises the president to appoint candidates for the Electoral Commission without doing due diligence, that shows a pure reflection of the state of the nation. The Council of State is not giving the President the needed advice to move Ghana forward,” he said on Accra-based Neat FM.

Mr Gbande added that the council’s verdict on their petition will further “dwindle the trust and confidence of the public in the Electoral Commission”.

A statement signed by the Chairman of the Council of State, Nana Otuo Siriboe II said the advice to the President on the recent appointment of the NPP ‘party faithful” cannot be reviewed.

According to the council, once it thoroughly assessed the nominees’ CVs and provided advice to the President, the process was deemed complete.

Nana Otuo Siriboe II also established that, as rightly stated in paragraph eight of the third page of the letter, the President having sworn into office the two individuals, it is therefore impossible to review the Council’s recommendations to the President.

The Chairman stressed that they do not have the authority to review recommendations once they have been submitted to the President and as a result of this decision, it is impossible to revisit the approval process for Dr. Appiahene and Hajia Tijani.

A letter signed by the NDC Chairman, Johnson Aseidu Nketiah on Monday, April 17, made a claim that the two members sworn in by the President were deep-rooted members of the ruling NPP government and therefore cannot guarantee the neutrality and impartiality of the country’s electoral management body.

According to the letter, Dr Appiahene has been the patron of the NPP student wing at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) since 2017. He was a member of the party’s National Research and Data Analysis Team.

Additionally, the article alleges that Hajia Tajani is an activist for the NPP, and her family is deeply rooted in the organization.

The NDC, therefore, called on the Council of State to withdraw its advice to the president. It also called on it not to be seen as complicit in the appointment of “these patently partisan individuals to the Electoral Commission. It also called on it to safeguard the council’s integrity as far as its role in our government structure.”

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In a statement signed by its Chairman, Nana Otuo Siriboe II, the council said its advice to the President on his recent appointment of the two members alleged to be party faithful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) cannot be reviewed.

According to the council, once it thoroughly assessed the nominees’ CVs and provided advice to the President, the process was deemed complete.

“The process of advising the president is that the president submits the names of intended persons accompanied by their particulars with a write-up or what is called Curriculum Vitae. The Council of States studies the said CVs to ascertain the suitability of the said individual.”

The statement further indicated, “When the council is satisfied that the individual’s names have the requisite qualifications, it approves the nomination. If the council is not satisfied with the qualifications, it declines to make a recommendation”.

Nana Otuo Siriboe II also established that, as rightly stated in paragraph eight of the third page of the letter, the President having sworn into office the two individuals, the Council of State has become functus officio in their appointment process. “It is therefore impossible to review the Council’s recommendations to the President”.

The Chairman stressed that they do not have the authority to review recommendations once they have been submitted to the President. As a result of this decision, it is impossible to revisit the approval process for Dr Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani.

NDC’s Petition

In a letter signed by the NDC Chairman, Johnson Aseidu Nketiah on Monday, April 17, made a claim that the two members sworn in by the President were deep-rooted members of the ruling NPP government and therefore cannot guarantee the neutrality and impartiality of the country’s electoral management body.

According to the letter, Dr. Peter Appiahene has been the patron of the NPP student wing at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) since 2017. He was a member of the party’s National Research and Data Analysis Team.

Additionally, the article alleges that Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani is an activist for the NPP, and her family is deeply rooted in the organization.

The NDC party, therefore, called on the Council of State to withdraw its advice to the president. It also called on it not to be seen as complicit in the appointment of “these patently partisan individuals to the Electoral Commission. It also called on it to safeguard the council’s integrity as far as its role in our government structure.

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