Former Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has raised concerns over the commercialisation of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) internal structures, stating that the party has been turned into a “money-making machine.”
Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story on Wednesday, February 26, he highlighted findings from a fact-finding report on the party’s electoral performance in the Ashanti Region, which revealed widespread dissatisfaction with the increasing monetisation of internal elections.
“Observations coming from all 47 constituencies in Ashanti show that party members, supporters, and sympathisers are all calling for a review of the delegate system,” he stated.
According to him, the current delegate system, which determines the selection of party executives and candidates, has been heavily influenced by money, leading to voter apathy and division within the party.
“The process has become overly monetised, and that has already led to apathy in the party. It needs a complete overhaul,” he stressed.
Calls for Expansion of Voting Rights
One key recommendation from the report is to expand voting rights to all registered NPP members instead of restricting decision-making to a select group of delegates.
“Some say we should go further downstream and allow all NPP members to participate in the voting process, whether at the polling station, constituency, regional, or national level,” he explained.
He argued that expanding participation would enhance transparency and reduce the influence of money in the selection of party executives, parliamentary candidates, and presidential candidates.
Vote-Buying Undermining Party Integrity
Reflecting on the evolution of the delegate system, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noted that it initially involved basic incentives such as food and transportation allowances.
However, he lamented that the system has now escalated into full-blown vote-buying, undermining the party’s integrity.
“People think that what we are doing now is not serving the interest of the party. It’s causing divisions and polarisation, and some individuals are taking undue advantage, turning the party structures into a money-making machine,” he said.
Concerns Over Leadership Style and Electoral Performance
The fact-finding report, which he led, outlined key factors behind the NPP’s electoral struggles, particularly in its stronghold, the Ashanti Region.
The report cited concerns about the leadership style of former President Nana Akufo-Addo, describing it as rigid, overly centralised, and dominated by close family members.
Additionally, questions were raised about the mode of selecting the party’s presidential, parliamentary, national, and regional executives, with calls for reforms to restore transparency and fairness.
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