Editor of The Hawk Newspaper, Charles McCarthy, has launched a blistering attack on the New Patriotic Party (NPP), accusing the party of descending into indiscipline, intimidation and disregard for its own constitution.

Making his assertion on Kessben Maakye show in Accra, McCarthy insisted, the NPP has drifted far from the values it once stood for, claiming the party is now “full of hooligans” who threaten critics instead of addressing legitimate concerns.

He questioned why reports of gunshots and assaults during the party’s internal elections had been linked to the electoral process, insisting such incidents expose deep-rooted problems within the party.

McCarthy further alleged that there have been several instances where party executives declared election results instead of designated Electoral Commission officials, describing the practice as a violation of due process.

Citing the recent Asante Akyem North election, he claimed voting proceeded despite a court order, resulting in confusion and legal disputes. He argued that the growing trend of ignoring rules has fuelled widespread indiscipline within the NPP.
“The disrespect in the party is now glaring for everyone to see,” he stated, adding that repeated irregularities in internal elections have damaged the party’s credibility.

McCarthy also criticised NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, questioning whether he would tolerate regional executives overturning his own directives if he became the party’s national chairman.

He further alleged that Wontumi’s actions undermine the party’s hierarchy and constitution, claiming personal relationships should not influence decisions in internal party matters. He added that Wontumi is now pitching the electorates against the NPP party, a step that he thinks would be very detrimental to himself and the New Patriotic Party.

According to McCarthy, the NPP’s failure to enforce discipline was one of the major reasons for its poor performance in the last general election.

He concluded by warning that unless the party restores order and respects its own rules, internal divisions could continue to weaken its political fortunes

The New Patriotic Party ( NPP ) national communication director aspirant, Gordon Asare-Bediako has urged party faithful and political observers to stop speculating about who the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 2028 flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, will choose as his running mate, insisting that the decision has long been settled in the flagbearer’s mind.

Making his assertion on Kessben Maakye show in Accra, Asare-Bediako claimed, while many people have been engaging in public commentary and circulating names of possible running mates, Dr. Bawumia already knows the person he intends to select.
He noted that several lists circulating on social media and other platforms claiming to reveal the chosen running mate were false, adding that similar speculation also surrounded the selection of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NAPO) ahead of the 2024 elections.

Asare-Bediako further dismissed claims by some individuals who allegedly say they have already been chosen by Dr. Bawumia as his running mate, describing such assertions as untrue.
“I know there are people who have interest, but they should all calm down and wait for the appointed time without putting unnecessary pressure on the party,” he said.

He advised anyone interested in becoming the running mate to approach the party’s flagbearer directly rather than fueling speculation in the public domain.

A policy expert has blamed Ghana’s Fourth Republic political system for the skyrocketing cost of election financing, saying the growing practice of delegates demanding cash before voting is a direct consequence of how politicians have conducted campaigns over the years.

Making an assertion during a zoom meeting on Kessben TV’s Digest show Dr. Peter Tekpeh said the increasing monetization of politics did not happen overnight but is the result of a long-standing culture of inducement by political aspirants seeking power.

Speaking on the issue of election financing, he stressed that every problem has a root cause.
“Every incident has its root cause. The political framework in our country has been different since the Fourth Republic,” he said.
According to Dr. Tekpeh, many parliamentary hopefuls have, over the years, made huge promises and offered financial incentives to delegates to secure their votes during party primaries.
“People give huge promises to pave their way to Parliament. They induce the delegates to vote for them and that has been the trend, hence the demand for money before they vote,” he explained.

He noted that delegates have now become skeptical because many elected MPs fail to honour the promises they make during campaigns.
“The delegates also realized that the MPs most often are not able to fulfill those earlier promises,” he stated.
Dr. Tekpeh argued that meaningful reforms must begin with lawmakers themselves if Ghana is to curb the growing commercialization of politics.
“If we want to sanitize the system, the parliamentarians must now sit up and reverse the situation,” he urged.

His comments come at a time when concerns over the rising cost of political campaigns continue to dominate national discussions ahead of political party primaries and future general elections, with many stakeholders calling for stronger campaign finance reforms to protect Ghana’s democracy.