Former Speaker of Parliament and founding member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Prof. Mike Oquaye, has defended the decision to keep the party’s 2024 election review report confidential, stressing that it was an internal document commissioned for the party’s highest decision-making body.
Prof. Oquaye, who chaired the committee tasked with reviewing the party’s performance in last year’s general election, told reporters that the report was submitted solely to the NPP’s National Council, which he described as the highest authority outside the party conference. “When you are commissioned by a body to do a work, when you finish that work, you have to report to those who commissioned you. I don’t have a copy. The secretary has a copy. And that is how the work must be done,” he said.
The former Speaker rejected calls from party members and critics who sought access to the report, stating that internal review documents are not traditionally published. “Nobody ever publishes such reports. They are not meant for the public. The NDC never has, and the NPP will not do so,” he emphasised.
Prof. Oquaye also addressed questions about the report’s content and highlights, declining to share details. “I’m not expected to talk about it. It would be irresponsible on my part and I’m subject to disciplinary action if I start throwing matters of the report into the public realm,” he explained.
When asked how party stakeholders and contributors could learn from the 2024 election outcome, he said the National Council would decide which aspects to implement for future improvement. “We reported to them, they have started implementing some areas, and they are going to implement more in due course, which we quietly are observing,” he added.
The former Speaker acknowledged that some party members have grievances about not receiving copies, but stressed that the committee followed proper protocol. “There are some people who have grievances against me as chairman because I did not present them with copies of the report. I don’t think they are right,” he said.
The NPP’s 2024 election review committee report remains a closed document, with implementation of its recommendations left to the party leadership to ensure lessons are applied internally.