The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has justified its decision to expel 280 members, including former Gender Minister Cynthia Morrison, as a necessary step toward restoring discipline and unity within the party.
Nana Kwame Agyei, Research and Elections Officer for Agona West, told ABC Prime News on Monday that the move aligns with the party’s constitution and addresses long-standing issues of anti-party conduct.
“”These are a group a people who have consistently decided not to support any duly elected candidate of the party. They did that in 2012, 2016, 2020.” Agyei said.
“Whiles the leadership tries every effort to ensure that they act responsibly, the situation is getting out of hand.”
Agyei argued that the expulsion, though significant, is a constitutional enforcement that prioritizes the party’s cohesion.
He emphasized that this decision is a step for rebuilding the party.
He stressed that discipline and adherence to the constitution are non-negotiable if we want to succeed in future elections.
“So the best was to expel them from the party so there will be sanity, discipline in the party.”
“That is the best decision the party has taken and this is in the interest of the party.”
He also noted that the expelled individuals’ support for independent candidates in the 2024 elections was a direct violation of the NPP constitution, which automatically forfeits their membership.
“These individuals supported the independent candidate ‘Hon. Cynthia Morrison’ in the 2024 election and as we are all aware in the constitution if anyone contest as an independent candidate against the duly elected candidate of the party, that person automatically forfeit his/her membership.”
“Again if anyone support the independent candidate other than the duly elected candidate of the party, that person also forfeit his/her membership.”
“So what has happen is also an enforcement of the constitution that governs the party in Agona West Constituency.”
The decision was reached during an Expanded Constituency Executive Committee meeting with input from party elders, former executives, and electoral area coordinators.
“We weighed the pros and cons of this action and are confident it will position the party better for upcoming elections,” Agyei concluded.