The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Ghana is planning to profile potential parliamentary candidates early in constituencies without sitting MPs. This move aims to prevent aspirants from spending heavily on campaigns that may ultimately fail. According to Nana Akomea, the newly elected Third Vice Chairperson of the NPP, the party now has enough time to deliberately assess the demographics of these constituencies before settling on suitable candidates.
Nana Akomea stated that constituency-level demographic reports would help the party determine which type of candidate would have the best chance of winning. The reports will enable the party to identify the most suitable candidates based on the demography of each constituency. This approach is crucial, especially since the NPP now has more constituencies without sitting MPs.
The NPP's strategy involves assessing the demography of each constituency to determine the type of candidate that would have the best chance of winning. Nana Akomea noted that making this assessment early would prevent potential aspirants from investing heavily in campaigns before the party determines who is best positioned to win. This approach will save aspirants from wasting time, money, and emotional investments in campaigns that may not be successful.
Nana Akomea argued that the strategy is not entirely new to the NPP. In the 2000 elections, the party conducted a similar exercise, profiling potential candidates in constituencies without sitting MPs. However, the current exercise is more deliberate and on a larger scale. The party's goal is to be more fulfilling in its candidate selection process.
The NPP's decision to complete its internal reorganisation early has also contributed to its ability to focus on parliamentary preparations. Nana Akomea stated that the party has "secured for ourselves the blessing of time" by selecting its flagbearer well ahead of the 2028 elections. This early decision has helped reduce internal tensions and created room for the party to focus on parliamentary preparations.
Nana Akomea emphasized that the party's next major task is to get its parliamentary strategy right, particularly in constituencies without sitting MPs. The available time should allow the NPP to be more deliberate about who represents the party in those constituencies. The party aims to avoid leaving it free for all and instead make informed decisions about its candidates.
The NPP's approach to candidate selection is linked to its goal of winning the 2028 elections. Nana Akomea stated that the party's strategy will involve a combination of planning and grassroots engagement. By profiling potential candidates early and assessing the demography of each constituency, the NPP aims to increase its chances of success in the 2028 elections.
Key points
- NPP to profile potential parliamentary candidates early in constituencies without sitting MPs.
