The Deputy Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, Haruna Mohammed, has defended the postponement of the party’s United States branch elections, arguing that the process lacked essential arrangements required to guarantee a credible vote. The Chairman of the NPP Elections Committee explained that unresolved appeals, an incomplete voter register, disagreements over the electronic voting platform and difficulties surrounding proxy voting created serious challenges ahead of the scheduled polls.
Mr Mohammed explained that the NPP released guidelines covering elections across the party’s structures from the polling station level to the regional level. Under the arrangements, branch and regional elections were expected to take place within the same electoral framework.
The process, however, encountered difficulties after disagreements emerged between the national party and the NPP USA branch. According to the Deputy Secretary, the US branch sought to proceed with arrangements that differed from guidelines issued by the National Council.
The National Party subsequently opened discussions with the branch in an attempt to resolve the differences. Mr Mohammed disclosed that he engaged the US branch alongside the General Secretary and the Acting National Chairman as the party explored possible concessions to facilitate the election.
A major point of disagreement involved the electronic voting system developed by the NPP. The system, which belongs to the party, was rejected by the US branch despite efforts to explore how it could be used alongside physical voting.
The process also became complicated after about five aspirants were disqualified during vetting. Mr Mohammed explained that the affected individuals were entitled to appeal and that the National Party had established an Appeals Committee to consider their cases.
By Wednesday, with the election scheduled for Saturday, the appeals remained unresolved. The voter register was also incomplete while the proposed proxy voting arrangements had yet to go through the necessary authorisation, identification and signature verification processes.
“How could I ensure a credible election on Saturday? The appeals had not been heard and the proxy system had not been completed.”
Haruna Mohammed
The NPP Deputy Secretary subsequently engaged the Chairperson of the NPP USA branch, over the use of the electronic platform. When the branch maintained its opposition to the system, Mr Mohammed requested a formal explanation that could be reviewed by the national party.
A letter from the US branch was later referred to the NPP’s technical team headed by Dr Augustine Blay. The technical assessment, according to Mr Mohammed, challenged several claims contained in the letter and added to the uncertainty surrounding the proposed election arrangements.
With the election only days away, the Chairman of the Elections Committee determined that the outstanding issues prevented the process from proceeding. He therefore referred the matter to the National Party for further determination and postponed the election for a limited period.
Mr Mohammed explained that the decision fell within his responsibility as Chairman of the Elections Committee. He argued that the authority to intervene becomes necessary when unresolved administrative and technical matters could affect the integrity of an election.
US Branch Polls Await Fresh Clearance After Process Disputes
The postponed NPP USA elections will remain on hold until the national party and the US branch resolve outstanding technical, administrative and legal matters. Mr Mohammed explained that the election had been referred back to the National Party for a decision on the way forward.
The next stage will require direct engagement between the information technology teams of the two sides. The NPP Deputy Secretary indicated that the Ghana and US technical teams must examine the problems surrounding the electronic voting system and resolve the outstanding issues through an agreed process.
He also ruled out the use of a third party platform to bypass the official electoral arrangements of the NPP. According to Mr Mohammed, the national party’s approved procedures must guide the election regardless of where a branch operates.
The appeals process forms another condition for any new election date. The Appeals Committee established by the National Party must hear the cases of disqualified aspirants before the electoral process can advance.
The voter register also requires completion before the party can determine a new date. Mr Mohammed explained that the proxy system must equally be finalised so that members who cannot attend physically can participate through a transparent and verifiable process.
Against this background, the Chairman of the Elections Committee warned that any election held outside the party’s approved guidelines could face serious legal and organisational consequences. He referred to previous instances in Ghana where elections annulled after procedural requirements were not followed.
The dispute has therefore moved beyond a disagreement over the date of the election. It now involves the relationship between the national party and its overseas branch, the authority of the NPP’s electoral structures and the use of technology in internal party elections.
For the NPP, the matter also presents a test of how its internal democratic processes operate across international branches. The party’s electoral guidelines are expected to provide a common framework for its structures regardless of their geographical location.
Mr Mohammed’s position is that the election can proceed once the technical, appeals, voter registration and proxy arrangements have been properly resolved. The National Party will therefore determine the next steps after the outstanding issues have been reviewed.
Until that process takes place, the NPP USA branch election remains postponed. The final decision on a new timetable will depend on the outcome of the consultations and the determination of the party’s national leadership.
READ ALSO: GARID Allegations Amount To Complete Falsehoods — Techiman South MP
