Our leadership over the years is very “sour” – Former G/A Reg. Sec. NPP

Former Greater Accra Regional Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Eric Gregory Kwatia, has expressed disappointment with the party’s current leadership, describing it as “sour” and “painful.”

Speaking on Ghana Kasa on June 23, 2025, Kwatia backed the party’s decision to hold presidential primaries in January, explaining that it aligns with the party’s constitution, which allows for primaries to be held within two years after a general election defeat.

“The party’s constitution agrees with the decision, stating that after a general election defeat, we have at least two years to organize primaries to elect a flagbearer, enabling them to prepare adequately,” he said.

Despite supporting the timing of the primaries, he criticised how the party’s leadership conducts itself during internal elections. He accused some executives of showing bias and acting in their own interest instead of focusing on party unity.

“How can an executive support a candidate in a party contest and then claim it’s nothing after the election?” he asked.

Kwatia stressed that executives are expected to remain neutral and work to unify the party after elections. He drew a comparison to national elections, questioning how citizens could trust an Electoral Commissioner who openly took sides.

He blamed the party’s National Executive Council for failing to address these issues, which he believes has led to division and mistrust within the party.

“All these issues linger because our National Executive Council sits idly by, and this bias has brought us to this level,” he stated.

The NPP has officially set Saturday, January 31, 2026, for its presidential primary to elect a flagbearer for the 2028 general elections. The date was announced by the party’s General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua, after a National Executive Committee meeting held on June 17, 2025. The decision was later approved by the National Council.