In a letter dated, August 16, 2025, and on the Subject: Amnesty and Adherence to Party Disciplinary Protocols, and signed by the Ag. National Chairman, Mr. Danquah Smith Buttey, the National Council of the New Patriotic Party, indicated that in the interest of unity and reconciliation, it had resolved to grant general amnesty to all Party members who have been suspended or whose disciplinary cases are currently pending before the appropriate adjudicatory bodies.Thislifts all such suspensions and waives any ongoing proceedings against affected members.
It however came with conditions attached, especially to those who have forfeited their membership. They are to submit a formal application to the National Secretariat for reinstatement and when reinstated, they will serve a mandatory two-year period during which they will remain ineligible to contest any party election.
Then big names of our members in exile popped up. Paul Afoko, Sammy Crabbe, Nyaho-Nyaho Tamaklo, Alan Kyerematen, Ohene Ntow, Boniface Siddique, Yaw Buabeng Asamoah and Hopeson Adorye.
Let us begin to look at it this way. Some, if not all of those suspended might not be fairly treated. I am looking at cases where some parliamentary primaries aspirants get suspended, for going independent, when in actual fact, the problem was created by the party. Someone up there would pick who must be parliamentary candidate and all foul means would be used to kick an aspirant out.
He then goes independent and gets suspended only when he loses the election. If he wins, the party will go and lure him back home. Hon Asiamah of Fomena Constituency, was given special treatment. He got dismissed before the elections and the party went down on its knees and begged him to come back home.
In such cases, the one at fault is the party, who goes against party rules and forces people out. It should rather go down on its knees and beg for pardon.
Did I hear well that Paul Afoko and Sammy Crabbe were also pardoned? In 2015, Paul Afoko, Sammy Crabbe and Kwabena Agyepong were wrongfully suspended from office. That suspension went against the party’s constitution which demanded that only the electoral body which elected a member into office can remove that member (Art. 10). Yet, in the case of the three, instead of the National Delegates Conference, suspending them, the National Council did. So, here I expect the National Council, to rather beg these gentlemen for pardon.
And again, the three were suspended from office and not the party, so if their suspensions are lifted are they going back to occupy their offices?
Were Paul Afoko and Sammy Crabbe suspended because they took the party to court in 2016? If that is case then why were the following not suspended?
In 2016, the party was taken to court over elections of parliamentary candidates in their constituencies. One Ntim of Tema West, over the election of Carlos Ahenkora as parliamentary candidate; Lawyer Addison of Korle Klottey, over the election of Nii Noi as parliamentary candidate and Hon. Joseph Mensah of the Kwesimintsim, over the election of Hon. Joe Baidoo Ansah as parliamentary candidate. Nothing was done to them, so why should Afoko and Crabbe be punished?
Dr. Nyaho-Nyaho Tamaklo was suspended just because this NPP administration did not like to hear the truth. Dr. Tamaklo speaks the truth without adding “with all due respect,” because it is the truth and nothing else, and this matters to him most.
This failed administration just thrives on sycophancy and would not tell the emperor, he has no clothes on when indeed he is walking around naked. But not Dr. Tamaklo, he will say it without apology. A kind of person society needs.
Alan Kyerematen was a founding member of the party and he sacrificed a lot more than any of those leading the party today, yet the Establishment made sure he was treated unfairly and even label a traitor. I do not have his permission to list the little I know that was done to him that forced him out of NPP.
When he left the party, these members followed him, Ohene Ntow, Boniface Siddique, Yaw Buaben Asamoah and Hopeson Adorye. The party first came out to say, their status in the NPP had not changed, then one day, it published that all four plus Alan were no longer to be considered NPP members.
During that time, complacency rode high and the NPP believed it could easily win the 2024 General Elections and Alan and co. could never dent its chances.
As Boakye Agyako said, Alan physically walked away but many more walked away in their hearts and it showed when 2.1 million party faithful, decided not to vote. This created a huge blow to the NPP which sunk almost to the level of a non-entity.
Instead going to beg for forgiveness, the party organised a “Thank You Tour,” to thank the very people it had offended. Was this not an insult?
Now, those the party rudely offended and then had them suspended or dismissed are being told they can now return but on one condition. They will be second class citizens for a two-year probation before given full status. Is the NPP serious about reconciliation? This is what arrogance is doing to this great party which sadly lost its cherished foundational values, ideals and principles, when the Establishment took over in 2006.
When it is becoming very clear that without unity and this should include bringing back all party members who were on suspension or were dismissed, one would have thought that the NPP would have shed off pride and in humility, would go and beg those who were suspended or dismissed, to come back home and be restored full membership status, without any conditions attached.
This current leadership of the NPP are actually sinking the party further with any decision they make. In the first place, the very poor performance during the General Elections, should have warranted a voluntarily stepping down of all executives from regional to national. But no! That could not happen.
With the zeal to continue ruling the party, the national executives have coined and forced on the party, this Top-Bottom Approach, where the flagbearer would be elected. This would make them maintain their positions and further push the NPP into extinction. Such new development should have been endorsed by the National Delegates Conference.But it was not, because the Establishment wanted things this way.
As the reconciliation process goes on, Ghanaians need to be told, why Paul Afoko was suspended from office. It is very important that the truth is told, for he never was undermining Nana Addo’s chances. He was rather helping the party, which the Establishment was against. Paul Afoko needs to be given the honour and respect he truly deserves.
This failed administration must wake up, for instead of begging in humility, it is begging in pride and arrogance.
Hon. Daniel Dugan
