The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is embroiled in a bitter internal conflict following its devastating defeat in the 2024 Ghanaian general elections. Discontent within the party’s communication team has erupted, with accusations of financial mismanagement, neglect, and the misappropriation of campaign funds taking center stage. Former Communications Director, Yaw Adomako Baafi, a key member of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign team, has publicly voiced his grievances, alleging that party communicators were marginalized and their allocated allowances were squandered, leading to widespread anger and resentment. This internal strife is further compounding the party’s challenges as it grapples with the aftermath of its electoral loss.
Adomako Baafi’s criticisms directly challenge Dr. Bawumia’s post-election assertion that a lack of media support contributed to the NPP’s defeat. Baafi contends that the party’s leadership, specifically within the communications department, bears significant responsibility for the disastrous outcome. He alleges that the mismanagement of communication resources, including the misallocation of funds, severely hampered the party’s ability to effectively connect with voters and counter the opposition’s messaging. This mismanagement, he argues, played a crucial role in the NPP’s historic loss, overshadowing any perceived bias in media coverage.
Highlighting the stark contrast in resource allocation between the two major parties, Adomako Baafi claimed that while the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) provided their communication team members with substantial allowances, reaching up to GH₵1,000, the NPP’s communication funds were allegedly pocketed by a select few individuals. This disparity, he suggests, further demoralized the NPP’s communication team and crippled their ability to effectively campaign. He directly implicated Miracles Aboagye, Dr. Bawumia’s communication director, accusing him of withholding funds that were intended for the broader communication team, thereby undermining the party’s overall campaign efforts.
Adomako Baafi’s allegations paint a picture of a deeply flawed system within the NPP’s communication structure, where funds intended for crucial campaign activities were allegedly diverted for personal gain. He contrasted this alleged mismanagement with the practices of his predecessor, Akomea, who, according to Baafi, ensured equitable distribution of funds among communication team members, regardless of the overall budget’s size. This comparison underscores the alleged severity of the mismanagement under Aboagye’s leadership and highlights the perceived neglect of the communication team’s needs.
To address these serious allegations and uncover the truth behind the alleged financial irregularities, Adomako Baafi has called for a comprehensive audit of campaign funds allocated to all 16 regions of Ghana. This audit, he believes, will expose the extent of the mismanagement and reveal how resources were actually utilized. His call for transparency reflects the growing demand for accountability within the NPP following the election debacle and suggests a deeper concern about potential corruption within the party’s ranks. This demand for an audit also signifies the urgency with which some party members seek to address the internal issues that contributed to their resounding defeat.
The accusations of financial mismanagement and neglect within the NPP’s communication team represent a significant challenge for the party as it attempts to regroup and analyze the factors that led to its electoral loss. The internal strife and the allegations of corruption, if left unaddressed, could further fracture the party and hinder its ability to rebuild and regain public trust. The call for a comprehensive audit of campaign funds signifies a crucial step towards transparency and accountability, potentially paving the way for much-needed reforms within the party’s structure and operations. The outcome of this internal conflict and the subsequent investigations will undoubtedly play a significant role in shaping the NPP’s future and its ability to effectively compete in future elections.
