A 2024 NPP flag bearer aspirant and a leading Member of the party, Francis Addai-Nimoh, has described the party’s decision to go for top down approach on its presidential primary as recipe for confusion, conflict and possible collapse of the party.
He has questioned why leadership of the party is not addressing the grievances of members and rationale behind their massive lost in the 2024 general elections before rushing for the primaries in 2026.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is facing internal push-back over a proposed reform that would, for the first time, see the party elect its flag bearer before choosing national, regional and constituency executives.
This reversal of the party’s usual bottom-up electoral structure is being described by critics as a “top-down” approach, and it’s drawing strong opposition from some of the party’s most prominent members who are accusing certain elements of pursuing a self-seeking agenda.
It would be recalled that in June this year, the NPP announced that it has fixed January 31, 2026 for the presidential primary for the 2028 election to precede national, regional and constituency elections.
The decision was taken after the National Executive Committee of the party met on Tuesday, June 17, 2025.
The General Secretary of the party, Justin Kodua Frimpong, told the media after the meeting that the decision was subsequently endorsed by the party’s National Council.
The upcoming primaries are seen as a pivotal moment for the party as it begins preparations for a potential return to government.
But, Speaking on Ghanakoma morning show on Akoma 87.9FM in Kumasi with Sir John, Mr. Addai-Nimoh, a leading member of the party condemned the approach.
He said the proposal is a betrayal of the party’s foundational values.
He cautioned: “No one begins building a house by installing the roof before laying the foundation.”
He insisted the party’s electoral strength lies in the traditional hierarchy—polling stations to national—and reversing this would “sideline the base” and encourage internal manipulation.
He further warned that “choosing a flagbearer before electing party executives could lead to favouritism and imposition, damaging transparency and unity.”
According to Addai-Nimoh, who says he will not contest the upcoming 2026 presidential primary, also described the proposed reform as “strategically unsound, politically indefensible, and organizationally reckless.”
He maintained that without strong party structures in place, selecting a flagbearer first is “a recipe for disaster.”
He advised the party to address internal cracks before launching into a flagbearer contest.
He said: “I am against this approach…We need to fix the party to make it attractive again. Those declaring to be flag bearers—what are we standing on?”
He stressed that personal ambitions must be secondary to party reorganization, discipline and credibility.
The former Mampong Member of Parliament also argued that the top-down approach is not an antidote to addressing growing apathy within its grassroots.
“This will not only enhance ownership and legitimacy but also restore confidence in the democratic principles of the party,” he said.
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By Benjamin Aidoo|Akoma FM|Kumasi
