Maxwell Mahama, the former Communication Officer for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Sunyani East Constituency, has issued a candid assessment of the NPP’s performance in the 2024 elections. In a statement that reflects both frustration and a call to action, Mahama attributed the party’s loss to poor reorganisation during polling station elections and internal apathy among party members.
According to Mahama, the NPP’s disappointing performance, including the loss of over 50 parliamentary seats and several traditional strongholds, is a wake-up call for serious retrospection and reform.
A Call for Truthful Conversations
Mahama urged party members to embrace boldness, courage, and sincerity in addressing the challenges that led to the defeat. “We must start a truthful conversation toward rebuilding our Party. This embarrassing defeat demands a new reorganisation agenda to create a solid foundation for our return to power,” he emphasized.
Key Recommendations for Reform
Mahama outlined a roadmap for revitalizing the NPP, highlighting critical reforms:
1. Decentralizing Leadership Influence: The party must avoid building its structure around sitting Members of Parliament and prevent MPs from controlling delegate selections.
2. Transition to Electoral College System: He proposed replacing the delegate system, which he described as prone to manipulation, with an electoral college system allowing all card-bearing members to vote for leaders.
3. Expanding the Electoral System: He called for a broader voting process to engage more members in leadership selection.
4. Issuing Biometric Membership Cards Transparently: Mahama criticised the secrecy surrounding the issuance of biometric membership cards, noting that over 90% of members lack them.
5. Independent Supervision of Membership Registration: He suggested removing constituency officers from the process to curb corruption and manipulation.
Apology to Disgruntled Members
In a heartfelt appeal, Mahama called on the party to apologise to disgruntled members and adopt a new vision and direction. “The NPP must have a strong, sober reflection and reconcile with its rank and file to regain trust,” he added.
Charting the Way Forward
Mahama’s reflections resonate with a growing sentiment among party faithful seeking answers to the NPP’s electoral setback. His call for reform serves as both a critique of past missteps and a rallying cry for the party to rebuild with a focus on inclusivity, transparency, and accountability.
With the stakes high, the question remains: will the NPP heed these calls for transformation and prepare for a stronger comeback in future elections?
