Ghana: Information on changes in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) leadership; treatment of members of the NPP members by authorities, National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters, and intra-party conflict (2014-May 2016)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Publication Date | 27 May 2016 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | GHA105550.E |
| Related Document(s) | Ghana : information sur les changements survenus au sein de la direction du Nouveau Parti patriotique (New Patriotic Party - NPP); le traitement réservé aux membres du NPP par les autorités et les partisans du Congrès démocratique national (National Democratic Congress - NDC), de même que les conflits au sein du parti (2014-mai 2016) |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ghana: Information on changes in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) leadership; treatment of members of the NPP members by authorities, National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters, and intra-party conflict (2014-May 2016), 27 May 2016, GHA105550.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57dfa8904.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa
1. Changes in NPP Leadership
In April 2014, Deutsche Welle (DW), "Germany's international broadcaster" (DW n.d.), reported that Paul Afoko was elected as the chairman of the NPP, replacing Jake Obetsebi Lamptey (ibid. 14 Apr. 2014). According to sources, Mr. Afoko was suspended from his position (Panapress 14 Nov. 2015; Citi FM 17 Feb. 2016) in 2015 for "'misconduct'" (ibid.). Further information, including information on an interim leader, could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. For further information on the NPP, including history, see Response to Information Request GHA104685.
2. Treatment of NPP Members by Authorities and NDC Supporters
Information on the treatment of NPP members by authorities and NDC [the ruling party in Ghana (Reuters 8 July 2015)] supporters was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. In September 2015, Reuters reported that "at least 30 people," including NPP members, who were involved in a protest to "demand a new electoral roll," were "detained briefly for violating a court injunction that barred the marchers from entering the offices of the EC [Electoral Commission]" (Reuters 17 Sept. 2015). According to the source, the NPP requested a new "voter's register" before the 2016 election, alleging that the current roll "was bloated with ineligible voters" (ibid.).
Graphic Online, a Ghanaian news website, reported in March 2016 that there was a "scuffle between 'machomen'" of the NPP and NDC at a funeral, which the President, John Dramani Mahma, also attended (Graphic Online 11 Mar. 2016). The same source states that, "[a]ccording to our reporter, one could see that it was a turf war between the two groups" (ibid.). Ghana Breaking News, a print and digital news source (Ghana Breaking News n.d.), reported in April 2016 that there were "serious clashes" between NDC and NPP supporters in the Asunafo South district of the Brong Ahafo Region "over disagreements in the ongoing limited registration exercise" (ibid. 29 Apr. 2016). According to the article, NDC supporters "nearly chop[ped] off the wrist of the NPP agent at the … [registration] center and beat up another NPP supporter and her sister"; in response, four "NPP macho men" assaulted an NDC activist "with a machete" (ibid.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. Further and corroborating information on the treatment of NPP members by authorities could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
3. NPP Intra-Party Conflict
According to Bertelsmann Stiftung's Transformation Index (BTI) 2016 for Ghana, which "assesses the transformation toward democracy and a market economy as well as the quality of political management," party infighting is "clearly visible" in the NPP, which is "highly fragmented into different factions" and "[s]ometimes internal conflicts erupt into political violence" (Bertelsmann Stiftung 2016, 1, 8). In 2014 DW reported that the NPP has been "divided" since the 2012 presidential election when NPP presidential candidate Nana Akufo-Addo failed to win the election (DW 14 Apr. 2014). In November 2015, Panapress, a pan-African news agency (Panapress n.d.), reported that there is a "power struggle … between the faction of Nana Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate, and former President John Kufuor" (ibid. 14 Nov. 2015). Without providing further details, the same source states that "two lives have been lost as a result of the struggle for turf within the party" (ibid. 14 Nov. 2015). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
According to sources, Adams Mahama [the Upper East Regional Chairman for the NPP (Ghana Chronicle 24 Feb. 2016; Pulse.com.gh 1 June 2015)] was murdered in 2015, allegedly by fellow NPP members (Encomium 9 Jan. 2016; Pulse.com.gh 1 June 2015; Ghana Chronicle 24 Feb. 2016). Sources further state that the suspects in his murder include Gregory Afoko, a NPP member and younger brother of Paul Afoko (ibid.; Pulse.com.gh 1 June 2015). According to the Ghana Chronicle, the case was adjourned to 23 March 2016 (24 Feb. 2016). Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
In October 2015, MyJoyOnline, an "online news portal" (MyJoyOnline n.d.), reported that there were "[v]iolent clashes" at the headquarters of the NPP between "the party's private security the Invincible Forces and [a] vigilante group" purported to be supporting the NPP chairman (ibid. 23 Oct. 2015). According to the article, the clash was in response to an emergency meeting called by the NPP vice chairman to recommend "disciplinary action" against suspended NPP chairman Paul Afoko, who issued a press statement describing the meeting as "illegal" (ibid.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Bertelsmann Stiftung. 2016. "Ghana Country Report." Bertelsmann Stiftung's Transformation Index (BTI)2016. [Accessed 18 May 2016]
Citi FM. 17 February 2016. "Afoko, NPP Clash in Court Today." [Accessed 19 May 2016]
Deutsche Welle (DW). 14 April 2014. Isaac Kaledzi. "New Leadership for Ghana's NPP as It Eyes 2016 Poll." [Accessed 18 May 2016]
_____. N.d. "Deutsche Welle at a Glance." [Accessed 20 May 2016]
Encomium. 9 January 2016. "Major Headline News That Rocked Ghana in 2015." [Accessed 19 May 2016]
Ghana Breaking News. 29 April 2016. "NDC, NPP Macho Men in Bloody Clash at Registration Centre." [Accessed 18 May 2016]
_____. N.d. "Advertising." [Accessed 20 May 2016]
Ghanian Chronicle. 24 February 2016. Maame Agyeiwaa Agyei and Ethel Mensah. "Ghana: Afoko to Face High Court…Over the Death of NPP Chairman." [Accessed 19 May 2016]
Graphic Online. 11 March 2016. "NPP/NDC Machomen Clash at Late Bantamahene's Funeral." [Accessed 18 May 2016]
MyJoyOnline. 23 October 2015. Isaac Essel. "NPP and 'Afoko' Forces in Violent Clash at Party Headquarters." [Accessed 18 May 2016]
_____. N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 20 May 2016]
Pan African News Agency (Panapress). 14 November 2015. "Ghana: Media Report Clash of Anti-Corruption Crusaders, Crisis in Opposition Party." [Accessed 18 May 2016]
_____. N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 20 May 2016]
Pulse.com.gh. 1 June 2015. Emmanuel Tornyi. "One More Suspect in Adams Mahama's Death Arrested." [Accessed 19 May 2016]
Reuters. 17 September 2015. "Ghana Protesters Clash with Police." [Accessed 18 May 2016]
_____. 8 July 2015. Kwasi Kpodo. "Ghana's Ruling Party Reclaims Parliamentary Seat in By-Election." [Accessed 26 May 2016]
Additional Sources Consulted
Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; BBC; ecoi.net; Factiva; La Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'Homme; Freedom House; Human Rights Watch; IRIN; News Ghana; United Nations - Refworld; United States - Department of State.
