Nyaho-Tamakloe Questions Bawumia’s Rise, Says NPP Abandoned Its Own Democratic Rules

One of the New Patriotic Party’s founding figures, Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, has launched a sharp critique of the party’s internal governance, arguing that former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia would not have qualified to serve as Nana Akufo-Addo’s running mate if the NPP had strictly enforced its own constitutional requirements.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe contended that the party has gradually departed from the democratic traditions that once distinguished it within Ghana’s political landscape. He maintained that eligibility for senior internal leadership roles should be determined by clearly established membership criteria rather than political expediency.

According to him, the NPP’s own rules require aspiring leaders to be members in good standing, consistently pay party dues, actively participate in branch activities by attending at least half of all meetings, and maintain active membership for several years before becoming eligible for higher office.

Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe argued that those conditions, in his assessment, had not been satisfied when Dr Bawumia was selected as the party’s vice-presidential candidate.

The remarks reopen longstanding debates over internal democracy within Ghana’s political parties, particularly the balance between constitutional procedures and strategic political considerations when selecting national leaders.

Beyond Dr Bawumia’s nomination, the veteran politician suggested that the NPP has lost the democratic reputation it once enjoyed, asserting that the National Democratic Congress currently demonstrates stronger internal democratic practices than its main political rival.

He also criticised the party’s response to the recent conviction of Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, in an illegal mining case.

Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe questioned the decision by the party’s General Secretary to characterise the High Court’s ruling as politically motivated less than a day after the judgment was delivered, arguing that such a reaction risked undermining confidence in Ghana’s judicial institutions.

His comments come as the NPP continues to navigate heightened internal tensions over constituency elections, party reforms and leadership accountability, with governance standards increasingly becoming part of the broader conversation ahead of the party’s future electoral preparations.

While Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe’s claims are likely to intensify debate within the party, they represent his personal assessment of the NPP’s internal processes. The party has not publicly accepted his characterisation, and Dr Bawumia has not responded to the specific allegations regarding his eligibility.