The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Ghana is planning a more deliberate approach to selecting parliamentary candidates in constituencies where it has no sitting Member of Parliament ahead of the 2028 elections. This strategy, according to Nana Akomea, the newly elected Third Vice Chairperson of the party, will involve assessing the demographics of these “orphan constituencies” before candidates are selected. The NPP now has more constituencies without sitting MPs and enough time to plan its parliamentary strategy carefully.
Nana Akomea stated that the approach is not entirely new but will be implemented on a larger and more deliberate scale. He mentioned that every party does this, and what is essential is the demography of each constituency. The constituency parties will be expected to provide information on the demographics of their areas, which will help the party select suitable candidates. This approach will prevent prospective candidates from investing heavily in campaigns only to be rejected later.
According to Nana Akomea, taking such decisions early will prevent prospective candidates from wasting time and money on campaigns. He noted that by the time the party reaches a different conclusion, candidates could already have built support and become emotionally invested in the contest. The NPP had used a similar approach ahead of the 2000 elections, profiling constituencies in Accra's coastal areas as an example.
Nana Akomea defended the party’s decision to identify potential candidates who are not currently members of the NPP. He stated that every party does that, and the difference ahead of 2028 will be the scale and the level of planning. The NPP’s early internal reorganisation has given the party more time to prepare for the next general election.
Nana Akomea linked the early selection of the party’s flagbearer to the reduced tension during the recent national executive elections. He said the party’s immediate task is now to get its parliamentary strategy right. The early selection of the flagbearer has cascaded and given the party a blessing of time.
The NPP is expected to use the demographic information to select candidates who can win in the orphan constituencies. This approach will help the party to have a better chance of winning in these constituencies. Nana Akomea emphasized that the party will do this on a scale that is more deliberate and fulfilling.
The NPP's strategy for the 2028 election will involve a combination of careful planning and implementation. The party is expected to finalize its parliamentary strategy and select suitable candidates for the orphan constituencies. KEY_POINT: The NPP plans to deliberately select candidates for orphan constituencies ahead of the 2028 election. KEY_POINT: The party will assess demographics of each constituency before selecting candidates. KEY_POINT: The NPP's early internal reorganisation has given the party more time to prepare for the next general election.
