There is a need for the leadership of the party to be circumspect and to adopt best leadership practices in managing both internal and external challenges confronting the party. The rank and file must strictly adhere to the rules and laws governing the party to ensure discipline, with appropriate sanctions applied to any member who violates these regulations.
Former Member of Parliament for Asante-Akim North Constituency, Andy Appiah-Kubi, made these remarks on the Adekyee Mu Nsem morning show on Ahotor 92.3 FM in Accra, hosted by Citizen Kofi Owusu. He stressed that the party’s executives must demonstrate leadership at all levels of the party structure and enforce discipline uniformly among members.
According to him, it is the party that ultimately suffers when executives use their leadership positions to pursue personal interests at the expense of party development, especially as the party heads toward its flagbearership contest later this month. Such actions, he noted, result in a credibility deficit that weakens the party.
In a related development, the internal crisis within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has deepened following strong criticism from party stalwart Dr. Arthur Kobina Kennedy over moves to expel prominent member Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng. Dr. Kennedy described the disciplinary process as “flawed and opaque,” accusing the party of practicing selective justice.
The former flagbearer aspirant questioned the procedural integrity and suddenness of the decision to initiate expulsion proceedings against the renowned heart surgeon. Professor Frimpong-Boateng had previously described the party’s leadership as “fake” and called for a complete overhaul to restore the party’s vitality.
Despite this, the party initiated disciplinary measures that could lead to his expulsion. Dr. Kennedy expressed concern over what he described as the suspicious timing of the party’s communication on the issue. The NPP’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, issued a statement on Tuesday, January 13, condemning the professor’s comments as reprehensible and inimical to the party’s values.
“The process seems dubious. The announcement came late at night, and by the next morning, a statement had already been issued. When exactly did the national executives meet to decide on referring the professor to the disciplinary committee?” Dr. Kennedy questioned in an interview.
Central to Dr. Kennedy’s criticism is the perceived inconsistency in the enforcement of discipline within the party. He cited figures such as Kennedy Agyapong and Bono Regional Chairman Kwame Baffoe (Abronye), who have previously made harsh comments against party leadership without facing expulsion threats.
“We need to ask ourselves why some voices are targeted while others are not,” Dr. Kennedy remarked, warning that selective enforcement undermines the party’s moral credibility.
The disciplinary controversy followed Professor Frimpong-Boateng’s appearance on The Point of View on Monday, January 12, where he alleged that the 2023 presidential primary was characterized by arm-twisting and bribery—claims the NPP leadership has unequivocally rejected as baseless.
Dr. Kennedy maintained that rather than attacking the professor personally, the party should reflect on the fundamental issues raised, particularly concerns about corruption and the party’s departure from its founding principles.
“If the professor used strong language, it was to emphasize that the party is on the wrong path. The focus should be on addressing the issues, not attacking his person,” he said.
Meanwhile, while NPP Deputy General Secretary Haruna Mohammed has blamed Professor Frimpong-Boateng for contributing to the party’s 2024 election defeat, constitutional experts such as Sammy Crabbe have cautioned that the party cannot lawfully expel him without a fair hearing. Doing so, they warn, would only reinforce the “fake” label the professor has used to describe the party’s leadership.