The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has instructed all prospective parliamentary aspirants, their agents and supporters to stop campaigning immediately ahead of the party’s parliamentary primaries.
The directive was issued after the party received several complaints that some members seeking to contest parliamentary seats had already begun campaigning in their constituencies.
In a statement signed by General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong and issued on October 11, the NPP said such activities breached its regulations and Code of Conduct.
The party warned that premature campaigning “creates an uneven playing field and undermines the unity and discipline on which the Party’s success depends.”
The ban covers the erection of posters, billboards, banners and other branded materials linked to prospective candidates. Aspirants and their supporters are also prohibited from holding rallies, meeting polling station executives or touring constituencies to seek backing.
They have further been told not to distribute items or offer other inducements to delegates and party members. Paid media campaigns and social media advertising intended to promote their candidacies are also forbidden.
The NPP said party officials at every level must not support or publicise the activities of aspirants before the official process begins.
“Party officers at the polling station, Electoral area, constituency, Region and National levels, TESCON, are forbidden entirely from posting any parliamentary aspirant on any social media platform (Facebook, X, Instagram etc.) or enabling such pre-mature Parliamentary aspirants’ activities,” the statement said.
The warning applies to party officers at polling station, Electoral area, constituency, regional and national levels, as well as members of TESCON.
The party said anyone who ignored the directive would face disciplinary action. Such action could also affect an individual’s eligibility to contest in the NPP’s parliamentary primaries.
The NPP has not yet released the timetable or guidelines for the parliamentary process, saying those details would be announced in due course.
Constituency and regional executives have been tasked with enforcing the directive in their respective areas. The party also urged all members to cooperate with the instruction.
