Former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, has issued a passionate appeal to delegates attending the party’s annual conference, urging them to push for deeper grassroots inclusion in the party’s ongoing constitutional reforms.
In a statement released on Friday, June 20, 2025, at 1:20 pm, Mr. Agyepong commended the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the National Council (NC) for largely adopting reform proposals he submitted.
However, he expressed concern over the exclusion of past polling station executives and electoral area coordinators from the expanded electoral college.
The polling station is the basic unit of political activity and represents the heart and soul of the party,” he stated.
Expanding participation at the top while excluding the polling station executives – the true engine of our grassroots – cannot only be an oversight but a gross injustice.”
The National Council recently endorsed a limited expansion of the electoral college to include former national, regional, and constituency executives, as well as current MMDCEs, Members of Parliament, Ministers, and Deputies.
While Agyepong welcomed this move as a step forward, he argued that it falls short of the inclusiveness needed to revitalise the party’s base.
He warned that failing to recognise the sacrifices of those at the grassroots — many of whom have served the party loyally since 1992 — risks further alienation and discontent.
According to him, the already strained morale at the polling station level could worsen unless reforms are broadened.
“The decision to add a paltry two additional polling station executives undermines the spirit of unity we seek to build,” he noted, questioning who determines the selection of the two extra polling station executives and four additional electoral area delegates.
Agyepong urged constituency executives and party delegates to advocate for the inclusion of all past ward and polling station executives as well as electoral area coordinators in the electoral college structure.
He believes such a move will reduce monetary influence in internal elections and promote a genuine contest of ideas and vision.
He concluded his appeal with a call to build a party that values every member, from flagbearers to foot soldiers: “Let’s build a party that recognises every hand that lifts a flag, every knuckle that knocks a door, and every voice that calls out for equity.”
Mr Kwabena Agyarpong
Source: Classfmonline.com/Cecil Mensah
