NPP's new parliamentary aspirant selection process designed to favour Bawumia loyalists – Ebo Buckman

The Deputy Director of Communications of the United Party, Ebo Buckman, has accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of designing its new parliamentary candidate selection process to favour supporters of former Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

He argued that the party's new arrangements could undermine the ability of ordinary members to determine who represents them in Parliament.

Speaking on Accra-based TV3's New Day programme on Friday, October 30, Ebo Buckman said, “This business of trying to get Bawumia loyalists all over the place will not augur well for the party."

His comments follow the NPP's announcement of new guidelines requiring prospective parliamentary aspirants, including incumbent MPs, to submit online expressions of interest between November 1 and 10, 2026.

The party has set an application fee of GH¢5,000 and said all applicants will undergo vetting and screening to determine their eligibility.

It has also announced capacity-building workshops for prospective candidates in December across the Northern, Middle and Southern zones.

The NPP has explained that the process is intended to promote fairness, transparency, discipline and equal opportunities for all aspirants. It has also maintained its earlier directive suspending campaign activities until official clearance is granted.

However, Mr Buckman believes the screening arrangements could give party executives undue influence over the selection of parliamentary candidates, instead of allowing constituency members to make the decision through primaries.

He specifically cautioned former supporters of Alan Kyerematen and Kennedy Agyapong against investing in the process, alleging that they could be disqualified during vetting because of their political affiliations.