Sunyani East NPP Secretary hopeful takes disqualification fight to National Steering Committee

An aspiring New Patriotic Party (NPP) Constituency Secretary for Sunyani East, Maxwell Mahama, has escalated his challenge against his disqualification from the party's constituency executive elections by petitioning the National Steering Committee to overturn the decision.

The petition, dated July 1, 2026, follows an earlier appeal in which the Sunyani East Constituency Appeals Committee upheld the decision of the Constituency Vetting Committee to disqualify him from contesting the position.

In the latest petition, Mr. Mahama urged the National Steering Committee to assume jurisdiction over the matter, arguing that both the vetting and appeals processes were fundamentally unfair and violated the principles of natural justice.

He said he was never given the opportunity to confront or cross-examine the individual who allegedly petitioned against his candidature, claiming that no petitioner appeared before either the Vetting Committee or the Appeals Committee to establish his or her identity or substantiate the allegations.

Mr. Mahama further alleged that the Appeals Committee declined his request for a copy of the findings and recommendations submitted by the Vetting Committee, a decision he said prevented him from effectively challenging the basis of his disqualification.

According to the petitioner, while the Vetting Committee referred to alleged audio recordings purportedly containing his voice but did not play them during the hearing, the Appeals Committee indicated that three such recordings existed but played only one.

He denied that the voice in the recording was his, describing the audio as "fictitious, disjointed, fabricated and incapable of being relied upon as credible evidence."

Mr. Mahama also claimed that the committee refused his request for copies of the recordings to enable independent verification of their authenticity.

The petitioner further questioned the identity and standing of the individual who allegedly lodged the complaint against him, stating that the person did not appear before either committee or produce any evidence of membership of the NPP.

Mr. Mahama argued that with the Sunyani East Constituency Executive elections scheduled for July 11 and 12, 2026, urgent intervention by the National Steering Committee was necessary to prevent what he described as irreparable prejudice arising from his inability to contest.

He also alleged that his disqualification was politically motivated, claiming it formed part of a calculated attempt by Bono Regional NPP Chairman Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC, and former Sunyani East MP Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh to prevent him from contesting the election.

According to him, the two party officials, who chair the Bono Regional Steering Committee and the Sunyani East Constituency Appeals Committee respectively, have consistently undermined his efforts within the party.

Mr. Mahama further expressed concerns about the impartiality of the Bono Regional party structures, arguing that he could not expect a fair hearing if the matter remained at the regional level.

He is therefore asking the National Steering Committee to assume jurisdiction over the petition, set aside the Appeals Committee's decision, declare the proceedings leading to his disqualification unfair and contrary to natural justice, restore him to the list of qualified aspirants for the Constituency Secretary position, and grant any further relief it considers appropriate.

Mr. Mahama appealed to the National Steering Committee to treat the petition as a matter of urgency, citing the proximity of the constituency executive elections.

The National Steering Committee has not yet publicly responded to the petition or indicated whether it will intervene in the matter.

The latest petition marks a further escalation of the dispute over the Sunyani East NPP constituency executive elections, with the outcome expected to attract significant attention ahead of the party's internal polls.

Please, find below the full text of his petition

1st July, 2026
The National Steering Committee New Patriotic Party (NPP) Accra.

THROUGH: The Ag. National Chairman & The General Secretary.

Dear Sir
PETITION AGAINST THE DECISION OF THE SUNYANI

EAST CONSTITUENCY APPEALS COMMITTEE UPHOLDING MY DISOUALIFICATION BY THE CONSTITUENCY VETTING COMMITTEE I respectfully petition the National Steering Committee against the decision of the Sunyani East Constituency Appeals Committee upholding my disqualification by the Constituency Vetting Committee on 28th June, 2026.

At the outset, I respectfully state that I rely on the entire contents of my petition dated 28th June, 2026, which I submitted to the

Constituency Appeals Committee, together with all the facts, grounds and reliefs contained therein, and I respectfully adopt them as though fully set out in this petition.

I further state that throughout the proceedings before both the

Constituency Vetting Committee and the Constituency Appeals Committee, no petitioner ever appeared before either committee to establish his or her identity or prove that he or she was indeed the author of the allegations made against me. Consequently, I was denied the opportunity to confront and cross-examine my accuser, contrary to the fundamental rules of fairness and natural justice.

Furthermore, the Constituency Appeals Committee declined my request to furnish me with a copy of the alleged findings and recommendations submitted to it by the Constituency Vetting Committee. This refusal deprived me of the opportunity to effectively challenge the basis upon which my disqualification was upheld.

Again, whilst the Constituency Vetting Committee refused to play any alleged audio recordings purported to contain my voice, the Constituency Appeals Committee alleged that there were three such recordings but played only one to my hearing. I categorically deny that the voice contained in the audio played before me is mine. The purported recording had no identifiable source, no information regarding the date, time or circumstances under which it was allegedly made, and no evidence establishing its authenticity. To say the least, the audio is fictitious, disjointed, fabricated and incapable of being relied upon as credible evidence against me.

Despite my firm request, the Constituency Appeals Committee also refused to furnish me with copies of any of the alleged audio recordings to enable me to subject them to independent examination or verification.

I further state that the faceless petitioner never appeared before either committee and never produced a valid Party membership identification card or any other proof establishing his or her membership of the Party. In the absence of such proof, the credibility and standing of the purported petitioner remain unknown.

The Constituency Executive Elections are scheduled to be held on I Ith and 12th July, 2026. Unless the National Steering Committee intervenes expeditiously, I stand to suffer irreparable prejudice by being unlawfully prevented from exercising my constitutional right

under the Party's Constitution to contest for the office of Sunyani East Constituency Secretary.

It is my respectful contention that, politically, my disqualification forms part of a calculated attempt orchestrated by Chairman Kwame Baffoe (Abronye DC), who chairs the Bono Regional Steering Committee, together with Mr. Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh who also chairs the constituency appeals committee, to deny me the opportunity to contest the election. It is a notorious fact within the Party that these two gentlemen are not on good terms with me and have consistently undermined and sabotaged my efforts and contributions as a loyal member of our great Party.

In addition, I respectfully state that, so long as these petitions remain within the jurisdiction of the Bono Regional Party structures, I genuinely fear that I will not receive a fair, impartial and independent hearing. It is for this reason that I humbly invoke the intervention of the National Steering Committee to ensure that justice is not only done but is manifestly seen to be done.

In the circumstances, I respectfully pray the National Steering Committee to:

I . Assume jurisdiction over this petition in the interest of fairness and justice.

2. Set aside the decision of the Sunyani East Constituency Appeals Committee affirming my disqualification.
3. Declare the proceedings and decision leading to my disqualification unfair and contrary to the principles of natural justice.
4. Direct that I be restored to the list of qualified aspirants to contest the office of Sunyani East Constituency Secretary.
5. Grant any other relief(s) that the National Steering Committee considers just and appropriate in the circumstances.

I respectfully urge the National Steering Committee to treat this petition as one requiring urgent attention in view of the impending Constituency Executive Elections scheduled for I Ith and 12th July, 2026.

I remain confident that the National Steering Committee will uphold the principles of fairness, justice, transparency and the rule of law which have always guided the affairs of our great Party.

Respectfully subplitted.

MAXWELL MAHAMA
Petitioner (0243772642)
Cc. The Bono Regional Steering Committee Members, NPP.

The Legal & Constitutional Affairs Committee, NPP National Headquarters, Accra.

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