The governing New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) bid to break the 8-year cycle is encountering hurdles as parliamentary candidates appear to be neglecting their campaign duties, prompting a stern call for action from the party’s general secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua.
Amid predictions from both local and international polls favoring the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, the NPP is struggling to unify its efforts.
Reliable sources within the party’s national executive reveal that parliamentary candidates aligned with the NPP are displaying a lack of enthusiasm in their campaign activities.
In response to this concern, General Secretary Kodua has urgently issued a directive, just two months before the crucial election, instructing all parliamentary candidates to intensify their efforts.
He has called for a weekly reporting system from regional campaign teams to track progress effectively.
In a statement released on Friday, October 4, Mr. Kodua emphasized the need for candidates to dedicate more time to engaging with constituents within their respective constituencies rather than neglecting the campaign and departing the area.
The directive mandates that parliamentary aspirants spend a minimum of “four days per week” in their constituencies to boost their presence and connection with the electorate.
The party expressed apprehension over reports of inconsistent candidate engagement within their constituencies, warning that such behavior could significantly impact the NPP’s electoral prospects in both the presidential and parliamentary contests.
“I convey warm greetings from the National Secretariat. It has come to our attention that some parliamentary candidates are not consistently present in their constituencies for campaign-related activities.
The party views this matter with the utmost seriousness. Therefore, all parliamentary candidates must spend a minimum of four days per week in their constituencies.
You should be aware that this lack of engagement would substantially affect our electoral fortunes in both presidential and parliamentary elections,” the statement highlighted.
Mr. Kodua, known for his outspoken criticism of certain government officials within the Akufo-Addo administration, emphasized the party’s serious stance on the issue and urged all parliamentary candidates to prioritize constituency engagement.
Regional campaign teams have been instructed to monitor and report on candidate activities, submitting weekly updates to the National Secretariat in Accra.
“The regional campaign teams are hereby directed to submit weekly reports of the activities of their parliamentary candidates to the National Secretariat.
We rely on your usual attention and cooperation in this matter,” the statement added. Not long ago, the general secretary expressed concerns regarding government appointees’ disconnect from the party’s grassroots during a visit to the Bono Region, warning of potential consequences if the situation persists.
“Feedback from my tour of the Bono region shows that some appointees have lost touch with their base. Don’t force me to start mentioning names; do the needful,” Mr. Kodua stated on his Facebook account.
Notable actor Kofi Adu, popularly known as Agya Koo, shared similar sentiments in a viral video, acknowledging a concerning lack of presence from the NPP’s campaign compared to the robust activities of their NDC counterparts, particularly at the village level.