Dr Richard Amoako Baah, a seasoned political science lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has raised concerns about the potential rise of independent candidates and internal divisions within the New Patriotic Party after its parliamentary primaries on Saturday, January 27 2024.
The seasoned Political Scientist argued that the situation if not mitigated can pose a significant challenge to the governing New Patriotic Party’s unity as the country prepares for the upcoming general elections in December this year.
Dr. Amoako Baah reacting to the news of the loss of twenty-eight incumbent Members of Parliament expressed his apprehensions, attributing the looming division to what he perceives as unfair treatment meted out to losing candidates, particularly the incumbent Members of Parliament (MPs) who failed to retain their candidacy.
According to the lecturer, such perceived injustices might compel aggrieved individuals to consider running as independent candidates, thereby eroding the party’s internal cohesion.
“Anyways, it is not good for the party as the division continues. If candidates who lost think your party didn’t treat you right, are you going to keep supporting your party in the upcoming general elections? Think the things that have happened in the past have disseminated the party and it continued in the just-ended parliamentary primaries”
Dr Richard Amoako Baah
Dr Amoako Baah further emphasized that if the various candidates believe they were mistreated by the party, the likelihood of them continuing to support the ruling party in the general elections could diminish significantly.
Furthermore, the former head of the Department of Political Science at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology pointed out that the involvement of influential figures within the party, particularly in supporting newcomers, could exacerbate the disunity in the New Patriotic Party.
He further highlighted the extreme impact of political endorsements, stating that the situation is likely to cause some disaffection among some supporters of the incumbent Members of Parliament who lost their bid to represent the party in their respective constituencies.
“Now it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been with the party; if you ran against a candidate who has the support of the Vice President, then you’ve lost”.
Dr Richard Amoako Baah
Moreover, Dr Richard Amoako Baah raised a crucial question about the loyalty of candidates who lost to individuals backed by the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, asserting that the results indicate a potential fracture within the party, characterized by disunity and dissemination.
While acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding Vice President Bawumia’s ability to regain support within the party, Dr Amoako Baah also hinted at the role of financial resources in Ghanaian politics.
According to him, financial resources and commitment could also go a long way to influence and even reshape the political landscape after the ruling New Patriotic Party parliamentary primaries.
Dr. Amoako Baah however, emphasized that the New Patriotic Party is not out of the shadows of disunity and factions yet, hence the need for the party leadership to take immediate steps and measures to address the grievances and internal divisions to present a cohesive and formidable force in the 2024 general elections.
As the New Patriotic Party manage the fallout from its parliamentary primaries, it is also incumbent on the leadership of the party to ensure that the rank and file of the party is united and focused on the general elections.
The New Patriotic Party’s ability to navigate these challenges will play a crucial role in determining its success in both the presidential and parliamentary elections on December 7 2024 and the broader political landscape of Ghana.
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