The Project Director, Democracy Project, Dr John Osae-Kwapong, has asked the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to reconsider its decision to make members who forfeited their membership of the party to submit a formal application to the national secretariat for reinstatement.

He has also asked the party to reconsider its decision to prohibit such members from taking part in any internal party elections for a two-year period.

“It is unclear why this is part of the offer.

Is it based on the offences committed that led to their suspension, thus making them “unfit” to hold party office until they have demonstrated a renewed commitment to the party?” he queried

Speaking in an interview, Dr Osae-Kwapong said, although the party might have its reason for adding this stipulation, “I just hope that it does not discourage the suspended members from embracing the amnesty offer and undermine the party’s own efforts of forging unity.

Unity

The political scientist argued that post the 2024 electoral defeat, a key theme that had emerged in the party’s discussions was unity.

“There appears to be a recognition that to regroup and position themselves better for the 2028 election, it is incumbent upon the party to ensure total party unity.

“It is clear from the official party communication that the decision to offer amnesty to all suspended members is strongly motivated by the need for unity,” he stated

Dr Osae-Kwapong said the party must, however, recognise that forging unity takes more than just granting amnesty to suspended party members.

“Nonetheless, the effort must be commended as one of the many steps in the right direction needed to bring the party together,” he said.

Skip

He wondered if the party could skip the administrative process of asking those who forfeited their membership to reapply.

“The temporary nature of the sanction of suspension, in my opinion, warrants a simple administrative directive to reinstate them.

That should suffice as part of this offer of amnesty.

“I am unsure why the party is taking this step and placing an avoidable administrative burden on the affected people,” he stated.

Context

The NPP, last Saturday, granted a general amnesty to all members of the party who had been suspended or were facing disciplinary proceedings, as part of efforts to foster unity and reconciliation within the party.

“We hereby serve notice that this directive lifts all such suspensions and waives any ongoing proceedings against affected members,” it stated.

A statement signed by the acting National Chairman, Danquah Smith Buttey, however, said members who had forfeited their membership of the party would be required to submit a formal application to the national secretariat for reinstatement.

“Upon reinstatement, you shall remain ineligible to contest any internal party election until a mandatory two-year period has elapsed,” it pointed out.