NPP Bans All Splinter Groups

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has banned all splinter groups that are not recognised by the party's constitution.

It mentioned specifically the Greater Accra Organised Welfare Club, Five Star, Association of Constituency Chairmen, Association of Polling Station Chairmen as some of the unconstitutional groups within the party.

A statement signed by the General Secretary, Nana Ohene Ntow, said the decision was taken after meetings that the leadership of the party held with constituency executive and other stakeholders within Greater Accra to resolve various conflicts.

The meetings, which involved the party's Members of Parliament (MPs) in the region, executives from all the 27 constituencies and regional offices, were chaired by the National Chairman, Mr Peter Mac Manu.

Recently the Greater Accra Regional Chapter of the party had been rocked by numerous conflicts between some executive of the party, resulting in the destruction of party property and assault on some members in the Ablekuma South Constituency of the party.

Subsequently, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the party, Mr Sammy Crabbe, directed the Ablekuma South Constituency of the party to set up an emergency disciplinary committee to go into what led to the arrest of some executive members in the constituency.

It all started when five executive members of the constituency's executive, including the chairman, Mr William Akakpoh, were arrested by the Korle-Bu Police, upon the complaint of a Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Ms Theresa Amerley Tagoe.

Consequently, the regional chairman intervened, bailed the arrested party executive and agreed with the police to have the matter settled amicably at the party level.

However, Ms Ameley Tagoe denied her involvement in the clash between the polling station executive of the NPP and the constituency executive.

There were reported cases of conflicts involving other members of the party, constituency executive and MPs.

The statement asked that all actions aimed at removing any constituency executive from office must cease forthwith.

“In this regard, actions in respect of the removal of executives of the Tema East, Ablekuma South and Okaikoi South constituencies are to cease forthwith, and the status quo maintained. All executives are, therefore, to continue functioning in their various elected capacities”, it added.

It also called on the various constituencies to set aside the suspension of MPs from attending regional executive meetings, especially Nana Akomea, MP for Okaikoi South, and Ms Tagoe.

The statement also identified the absence of a council of elders at the constituencies to settle matters as some of the reasons for the upsurge of disputes and differences among members.

It also called on the regional council of elders to be actively involved in the management of conflicts and disputes in the region.

It urged party members to recognise the party's constitution and exhaust the machinery for complaints and petitions management, rather than giving the party a negative public image.

The statement advised the regional executive to improve communication and transparency among executive and other members through regular meetings and the sharing of relevant information.