The Acting National Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Danquah Smith Butey, has inaugurated a nine-member National Elections Committee to oversee the organisation and conduct of the party's national executive elections.
The committee, chaired by a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Suhum, Frederick Opare-Ansah, is tasked with planning, organising and supervising all activities leading to the party's National Delegates Conference, where national officers will be elected.
The party’s National Director of Elections, Evans Nimako, will serve as Secretary, while a former Deputy Minister of Finance and MP for Atiwa East, Abena Osei-Asare, is the Vice-Chairperson.
Other members are Oboshie Sai Cofie, Anthony Abayifa Karbo, Salam Ama Appianin Damata, Eric Ntori and Frank Davies. The Ashanti Regional Chairman will join the committee after the conclusion of the party's Ashanti Regional Executive Elections.
Confidence
In a statement issued by the Office of the Acting National Chairman, Mr Butey congratulated members of the committee on their appointment and expressed confidence in their ability to execute their mandate with integrity, fairness, transparency and professionalism.
The statement said the committee's work would be critical to ensuring a credible, transparent and successful election of the party's next national leadership.
Mandate
The committee has been mandated to plan, organise and superintend over all processes leading to the National Delegates Conference, including the conduct of elections for the party's national officers.
Its responsibilities are expected to include developing the election timetable, supervising nominations, ensuring compliance with the party's constitution and electoral guidelines, and overseeing the conduct of the polls.
Background
The inauguration of the committee marks the formal commencement of the NPP's preparations for the election of national executives slated for September 19, 2026, at Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital, and is one of the party's most important internal democratic exercises.
The national executive elections are held after constituency, regional and other internal elections to elect officers who will manage the affairs of the party at the national level.
Positions to be contested include the National Chairman, General Secretary, National Organiser, National Treasurer, National Women's Organiser, National Youth Organiser and other national executive offices provided for under the party's constitution.
The elected national executives will be responsible for providing strategic direction for the party, overseeing its administration and coordinating activities as it reorganises following the party’s defeat in the 2024 general election and prepares for future electoral contests.
