Justin Kodua Frimpong
The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has opened the race for its National Executive Elections, with nominations set to commence on August 17, 2026, and the position of National Chairman attracting a nomination fee of GH¢50,000.
According to the timetable and guidelines issued by the party’s National Elections Committee on August 11, nominations will close on August 22, while the filing of completed nomination forms will take place from August 23 to 27.
Aspirants will subsequently undergo vetting from August 31 to September 3, with the outcome expected to be published on September 5. Candidates dissatisfied with the vetting decisions will have September 6 and 7 to file appeals.
The NPP’s National Executive Committee and National Council are scheduled to meet on September 10, after which the formal Notice of Poll will be issued on September 14.
The national elections are scheduled for October 3, 2026.
The National Elections Committee is chaired by former Member of Parliament, Frederick Opare-Ansah, with former Deputy Finance Minister Abena Osei-Asare as Vice Chairperson.
Other members are Oboshie Sai Coffie, Frank Davies, Anthony Karbo, Salam Ama Mpianimaa Damata, Eric Ntori and the Ashanti Regional Chairman, Evans Nimako will serve as Secretary.
The party has set out a number of eligibility requirements for prospective candidates. An aspirant must be a known and active registered member of the party for at least two years and must be of good character and in good standing.
Candidates are also required to have paid their membership dues for at least the preceding two years, pay the prescribed nomination fee and satisfy the National Vetting Committee that they meet the requirements to contest a national executive position.
For the National Youth Organiser position, candidates must be below 40 years of age. Their nomination forms must also be endorsed by at least one member in good standing from each of the 16 regions.
The Elections Committee has cautioned its members against contesting in the elections. It said none of the committee members was eligible to contest the national elections and that any member who decided to contest would have to be replaced by the National Executive Committee.
The vetting will be conducted by a nine-member National Vetting Committee chaired by former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah.
Members of the committee include Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Salifu Saeed, Ambassador Dr. Barffour Agyei-Bawuah, Elizabeth Ohene, Osei Prempeh, Joyce Opoku Boateng and Arnold Boateng, with Evans Nimako serving as Secretary.
Aspirants dissatisfied with the decisions of the Vetting Committee may petition the nine-member Appeals Committee, chaired by former Attorney-General, Joe Ghartey.
The Appeals Committee is required to determine petitions within 48 hours. A petitioner who remains dissatisfied may subsequently appeal to the National Executive Committee, whose decision will be final and binding.
The nomination fees range from GH¢8,000 to GH¢50,000.
The National Chairman position carries the highest fee of GH¢50,000, while candidates for the Vice Chairperson positions will pay GH¢30,000. The General Secretary position attracts GH¢25,000.
Candidates seeking all other national executive positions will pay GH¢10,000, while aspirants for the special wings, namely Nasara, Women and Youth, will pay GH¢8,000.
The party said payment for nomination forms would be accepted in cash or by cash cheque at its national headquarters at Asylum Down.
Aspirants who download the forms from the party’s website will, however, still be required to pay the prescribed fee and obtain an official receipt before their completed forms can be accepted.
The positions to be contested include National Chairman, National Vice Chairpersons, General Secretary, National Treasurer, National Organiser, National Women Organiser, National Youth Organiser, National Nasara Organiser and National Communication Director.
The Electoral Commission is expected to conduct the elections under the supervision of the NPP’s National Elections Committee and in accordance with the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574).
The electoral college will comprise members of the National Council, National Executive Committee, Regional Executive Committees, Constituency Executive Committees and External Branch Executive Committees.
It will also include members of the National Council of Elders, the National TESCON Coordinator and TESCON presidents from recognised tertiary institutions.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah