Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah, has called on the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to expand its electoral college and embrace broader participation in internal elections, as part of urgent reforms to tackle growing voter apathy within the party.
In a letter issued on Wednesday, July 2, Mr. Boamah stated that the NPP’s ability to strengthen internal democracy and restore institutional credibility hinges on inclusive electoral reforms that empower its grassroots.
According to him, expanding the electoral college to involve more party members, especially those in good standing, will enhance transparency and renew confidence in the party’s democratic values.
He proposed that voting rights in internal elections be tied to active membership, particularly the payment of dues, to ensure that those making decisions are genuinely invested in the party’s future. While he acknowledged that this would be a financially demanding initiative, he argued it could also serve as a sustainable model for fundraising.
“As the founding democratic political party in the Fourth Republic, the NPP should be committed to allowing all members in good standing to vote in party elections. This will help generate funds to support this expensive exercise,” he wrote.
The MP further noted that simply relying on a top-down approach to leadership decisions will not solve the problem of apathy, which he says is taking root across the party’s support base. Instead, he urged party leaders to focus on reforms that increase grassroots participation and accountability.
He emphasised that maintaining and strengthening the party’s bottom-up approach, where polling station executives, electoral area coordinators, and constituency officers are central to decision-making, is critical for the NPP’s future.
On the matter of leadership renewal, the MP also recommended that new party executives be elected before the selection of a flagbearer for the 2028 general elections. He explained that such sequencing is strategic, as the new flagbearer would be expected to work closely with the new executive team throughout the campaign.