NPP is “power conscious” – Political expert

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) is more interested in winning the presidential elections than strengthening its structures to avoid internal bickering, an expert in political marketing has observed.

Dr Kobby Mensah of the University of Ghana Business School believes the leadership style of the party’s flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo is partly to blame for the NPP’s nemesis.

“The party has become too presidential than being a political party,” the lecturer told Kasapa FM’s Maame Broni. “The focus of the NPP has shifted to winning just the presidency and as such creating the numerous problems.”

He added: “Its parliamentary politics has become ineffective. Blame the party for becoming too power conscious thereby taking their eyes off the ball in strengthening its structures.”

The Council of Elders is calling for the suspension of the national chairman Paul Afoko “until after the 2016 elections” because it believes he has brought the image of the party into disrepute.

Afoko and general secretary Kwabena Agyepong are under intense pressure to throw in the towel over the several internal wrangling in the Elephant party.

However, Dr. Mensah said the duo cannot be blamed entirely since Nana Addo’s leadership has adopted “parallel” structures within the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition, making it easier for anyone to disregard the party structures.

According to him, the situation has lingered on since 2008 with several people acting as party communicators when they are not supposed to be.

“You don’t set up a campaign team and someone else somewhere will be playing a parallel role aside the role that has been given to someone who is supposed to man it properly,” Dr. Mensah opined.

“This is what has brought the party thus far. It is not these two individuals [Afoko and Agyepong]. They didn’t look at the internal structures well and how to strengthen it,” he added.