Allegations of vote-buying and electoral album manipulation have been cited as key reasons for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) parliamentary defeat in Dome-Kwabenya.
Concerned party members claim that cash, fridges, and clothing were distributed to delegates before the primaries, creating widespread dissatisfaction among grassroots supporters who later refused to vote.
Addressing the media at the NPP constituency office in Dome, the leader of the Concerned NPP Members of Dome-Kwabenya, Alhaji Ibrahim Frimpong, described the party’s loss as self-inflicted.
He accused constituency executives of manipulating the party’s internal elections by removing over 600 loyal polling station executives and replacing them with unfamiliar individuals, including alleged National Democratic Congress (NDC) sympathisers.
“The elections committee, led by Mr. Jeff Kassim, colluded with executives and the then aspiring parliamentary candidate to fix the album. No elections were held at the polling station level, yet names of dedicated party members were removed,” he alleged.
The group further accused the party leadership of ignoring multiple petitions against the album’s manipulation.
“We sent our concerns to John Boadu, Hon. Cecilia Dapaah’s committee, and even the new General Secretary, Justin Kodua, but no action was taken,” Mr Frimpong stated.
According to the group, Oquaye Jnr’s overconfidence and refusal to reconcile with aggrieved members also contributed to the defeat.
“He publicly dismissed calls for unity, assuming Dome-Kwabenya was a stronghold that would guarantee his victory,” they added.
The absence of former MP Sarah Adwoa Safo, who was widely blamed for the party’s struggles, also played a role.
However, she later revealed that Oquaye Jnr never reached out to her for support, further deepening divisions within the party.
Despite an ongoing committee investigation into the party’s loss, the Concerned NPP Members say they lack confidence in the process, as it is chaired by the father of their parliamentary candidate, whom they hold responsible for the defeat.
By Ebenezer Madugu
