Tension is rising within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ayawaso East Constituency following allegations that the Greater Accra Regional Chairman, Divine Otoo Agorhom, is creating division ahead of the upcoming by-election.
Several constituency executives and party stakeholders have accused the Regional Chairman, Chairman Agorhom, of abandoning his unifying role and rather deepening internal cracks by allegedly imposing a preferred candidate on the constituency for personal interests.
Information gathered by paper revealed that, at least five aspirants have formally expressed their readiness to contest the Ayawaso East parliamentary seat on the ticket of the NPP.
However, party insiders claim that the Regional Chairman has refused to recognise or engage these aspirants, choosing instead to throw his full support behind one Baba Ali.
Sources within the constituency say that Baba Ali lacks grassroots support and popularity, raising concerns about the party’s chances of winning the seat if he is imposed as the sole candidate.
An Electoral Area Coordinator, identified as Avelon, accused the regional chairman of actions that could weaken the party and inadvertently benefit the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“About five candidates showed interest and picked nomination forms, but our Regional Chairman ignored all of them and threw his weight behind Baba Ali, who cannot win power for the NPP in this constituency,” Avelon alleged.
He further warned that such actions risk alienating party supporters and volunteers who are crucial to mobilising votes during by-elections, especially in a constituency considered highly competitive.
Adding her voice to the growing concerns, Hajia Salma, a former Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Ayawaso East Municipal Assembly, expressed disappointment at what she described as a lack of engagement from the regional leadership.
“He failed as a regional chairman of the party to reach out to us even after seeing our completed nomination forms and campaign posters around the constituency. Instead, he appears to be imposing his preferred candidate on the good people of Ayawaso East,” she said.
Party insiders fear that unresolved internal disagreements could weaken the NPP’s campaign machinery and affect voter confidence if urgent steps are not taken to address the concerns of constituency executives and aspirants.
As the by-election draws closer, calls are mounting for the national leadership of the NPP to intervene to ensure transparency, inclusiveness, and unity within the party to enhance its chances against the NDC.
Meanwhile, all efforts to get in touch with the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NPP prove futile, as he did not answer all phone calls from this reporter.
Below was a text message sent to Chairman Divine Agorhom after could not answer calls from this reporter: “Good evening, Chairman Divine Agorhom. please, my name is Alex Boye, a journalist with the New Crusading GUIDE. have received an of some NPP executives in the Ayawaso Constituency accusing you of creating confusion in the area by imposing a candidate on them ahead of the upcoming by-election. We therefore want to hear your side, please. Tnx” [sic].
