Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, has launched a fierce attack on the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over steps taken to expel him, accusing party executives of corruption, abuse of power and internal manipulation that, he insists, led to the party’s defeat in the 2024 general elections.
Speaking on Asempa FM yesterday, Tuesday, January 13, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng did not mince words, blaming the party’s leadership for what he described as a collapse of discipline and values within the NPP.
“Look at how we lost the 2024 election: abuse of power, corruption, arrogance. The party could not stand up to anybody; everybody was doing what they wanted. Now you are saying you want to remove someone from the party? To hell with them,” he said.
He alleged that party executives had manipulated internal party processes for personal gain, claiming that some members were bribed while others were pressured to vote for favoured candidates. He singled out the Deputy General Secretary of the NPP, Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B, describing him as “a lawyer with a small mind”.
According to Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, this culture of manipulation contributed significantly to the NPP’s electoral defeat and continues to pose a serious threat to the party’s future.
“Instead of the executives writing a report for everyone to read and contribute, they are covering up things and allowing us to go into another election with the same format. It is very bad. The executives should leave, and the party will stand,” he added.
The NPP has since announced that it has invoked relevant provisions of its constitution to begin processes to expel the former minister, following comments he made on Point of View on Accra-based Channel One TV on Monday, January 12, in which he described the party as “fake”.
Asked whether he still considers himself a member of the NPP, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said he does not associate with what he described as the current version of the party.
“Not the fake one. The real one is there. It is a virtual thing. The members are in the background,” he said.
He further alleged that the party’s most recent flagbearer election was marred by intimidation and bribery, accusing party leaders of twisting arms to impose a preferred candidate.
“Look at how they elected their last flagbearer, twisting people’s arms, bribing delegates and intimidating others. This is the beginning of corruption. This should not be allowed in any serious institution or any serious party,” he stated.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng also rejected claims that his report on illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, contributed to the NPP’s electoral loss. He said the report merely reflected the truth and argued that the party failed because it ignored critical internal and national issues raised ahead of the elections.
He further claimed that the NPP’s national headquarters has effectively become an extension of the campaign office of former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, despite the party’s failure to conduct a comprehensive review of its 2024 election defeat. He warned that pushing Dr Bawumia again without addressing internal challenges would not serve the party’s interests.
“Ghanaians had genuine reasons for voting against the NPP. The party must respect the electorate by fixing its internal problems before seeking power again,” he said.
Despite the initiation of expulsion proceedings, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng insisted that he remains a member of what he described as the “true NPP” and has no intention of leaving the party. He also made it clear that he would not honour any invitation to appear before either the party’s National Executive Committee or its Disciplinary Committee.
“I will not go there. Because of who is there? I will not go there at all. It will be a waste of my time,” he said.
Reacting to his comments, the General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Frimpong Kodua, issued a statement condemning the remarks as “highly reprehensible” and inconsistent with the party’s values, integrity and unity. The party rejected the description of the NPP as “fake” and dismissed allegations that its 2023 presidential primary was manipulated in favour of Dr Bawumia as unsubstantiated.
However, a founding member of the NPP, Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, expressed concern over the party’s decision to initiate disciplinary action against Prof. Frimpong-Boateng. Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse, he described the former minister as a seasoned and thoughtful individual whose words were carefully chosen.
He argued that the party should have engaged him in dialogue rather than moving swiftly to expel him, warning that such actions could deepen internal divisions.
“We have just come out of an election where we failed nationwide. You don’t treat outstanding members like this,” Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe said, cautioning that the approach could set a dangerous precedent.
Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr Kwame Asah-Asante, offered a different perspective, saying Prof. Frimpong-Boateng went too far in describing the NPP as a “fake party”, even though criticism within political parties should be tolerated.
“For me, the NPP is not a fake party. There are difficulties, and you can talk about them, but to describe the party as fake is extreme,” he said on Citi Eyewitness News.
Dr Asah-Asante stressed the importance of criticism in strengthening governance and internal party democracy, warning that intolerance of dissent could ultimately weaken the party.
“The threat of throwing somebody out because the person has criticised you will eventually end up throwing everybody out,” he cautioned, urging the NPP to strictly follow due process in handling the matter.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Secretary of the NPP, Haruna Mohammed, has urged Prof. Frimpong-Boateng to resign if he fundamentally disagrees with the party’s direction. He said party membership is voluntary and governed by constitutional provisions.
“If there is anybody who has to leave, let him leave. The NPP is a national party you joined voluntarily,” Mr Mohammed said, adding that members who wish to resign should do so formally in accordance with the party’s constitution.
Despite mounting pressure from party officials, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng has remained defiant, insisting that those he describes as “fake” elements within the NPP should rather be the ones to leave, while the party, he says, returns to its founding ideals.
Source: theheraldghana.com
