KEY POINTS

• Ashanti NPP executives want COKA’s four appointments cancelled.

• They allege the selection process breached party guidelines.

• They want a fresh process supervised by national party leadership.

A group of elected regional executives of the New Patriotic Party, NPP, in Ghana’s Ashanti Region has petitioned the party’s National Steering Committee to cancel appointments made by Regional Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, popularly known as COKA.

The executives are challenging the appointment of officers to four newly created regional positions, alleging that the process breached the party’s constitution and guidelines issued by its General Secretary.

In a petition dated October 28, 2026, the group asked the National Steering Committee, National Council and National Executive Committee (NEC) to intervene and supervise a fresh appointment process.

The disputed positions are two Deputy Regional Vice Chairpersons, a Deputy Regional Communications Officer and a Regional IT Officer.

Executives allege breach of party guidelines

The petitioners said the appointments followed the adoption of Motions 2, 3, 4 and 5 at the NPP’s 2026 National Delegates Conference.

They explained that the party’s General Secretary subsequently issued guidelines on October 16, 2026, outlining the procedure for filling the newly created regional and constituency executive positions.

According to the executives, the guidelines require elected regional officers to consult the NEC through the General Secretary. They also stipulate that the process should be transparent, inclusive and consistent with the party’s constitution.

However, the petitioners alleged that COKA did not follow these requirements when making the appointments.

One of their major concerns is the alleged involvement of previously appointed regional officers in the selection process.

The petition claimed that the Regional Chairman included appointed officials such as the Financial Secretary, Special Duties Officer, Research Officer, Electoral Officer and Legal Officer, alongside deputy officers, in the consultations.

The executives argued that these officials were not part of the elected regional leadership mandated by the guidelines to undertake the consultation. They said their participation undermined the fairness and independence of the process.

First Vice Chairman reportedly walks out

The petition also alleged that Regional First Vice Chairman Amofa Jantuah cautioned COKA against proceeding with what he considered an improper appointment process.

According to the document, the Regional Chairman rejected the objection and invoked what the petition described as a veto power to continue with the exercise.

The disagreement reportedly prompted Jantuah to walk out of the meeting in protest.

The petitioners further claimed that most elected regional executives opposed the procedure but that the chairman proceeded with the appointments despite their objections.

They argued that disregarding the views of the majority of elected officers contradicted the guidelines’ requirement for inclusive consultation.

These claims form part of the executives’ petition, and the document does not establish whether the party’s national leadership has independently investigated the allegations.

Petitioners want appointments suspended

The executives have asked the National Steering Committee, National Council and NEC to cancel all appointments made to the four positions.

They also want the national leadership to direct the appointees not to assume office or perform duties in the positions while the petition remains unresolved.

In addition, they are seeking national-level supervision of a fresh appointment process involving the Ashanti Regional Executive Committee.

They want the process to follow the General Secretary’s guidelines, including proper consultation with the NEC through the General Secretary and the participation of elected regional officers.

The petitioners said the appointments should promote unity, broaden the party’s appeal and strengthen its preparations for the 2028 general elections.

They warned that making appointments amid disagreements among elected regional officers could deepen divisions within the Ashanti branch instead of bringing members together.

National leadership yet to respond

The executives said their petition was motivated by a desire to protect party unity and strengthen the NPP ahead of the next general elections.

They also expressed readiness to provide additional information, evidence and witnesses to support their complaints, while requesting an early hearing.

The petition does not indicate whether the National Steering Committee or COKA has formally responded to the allegations.

The dispute comes as the NPP continues its internal preparations ahead of the 2028 elections, with disagreements over party appointments and internal procedures adding to the challenges facing its regional structures.