The disqualified New Patriotic Party (NPP) Upper East Regional Youth Organiser aspirant Samuel Akumbo has challenged the party’s decision to allow incumbent Salahu-Deen Musah to go unopposed, insisting that a competitive election remains the only way for delegates to determine the rightful leader of the party’s youth wing.
Mr. Akumbo, who says he remains confident of defeating Mr. Musah if allowed to contest, has declared that he would surrender the position should he win by fewer than 100 votes.
Speaking in an interview on DreamzFM monitored by BolgaFM, he said the proposal was not about personal ambition but a demonstration of his confidence in the delegates’ choice and his belief that leadership positions within the party must be earned through a competitive process.
“If we contest on the 15th and I beat Salahu-Deen Musah by less than 100 votes, I will clearly hand over the position to him,” he declared.
The comment formed part of his continued appeal for the party to reverse the decision that has left Mr. Musah as the only qualified aspirant after the vetting process.
Three aspirants, including Mr. Akumbo, were disqualified by the Regional Elections Vetting Committee over issues relating to constitutional and nomination requirements.
Mr. Akumbo, however, insists that his disqualification was unfair and says he exhausted all internal party structures before making his concerns public.
“From day one, when you tried reaching out to me, I told you that I cannot communicate to you because I need to exhaust the party structures because of building the party in unity,” he explained.
He said after his initial disqualification, attempts to get a hearing from the party leadership in the region proved unsuccessful.
“I tried as much as possible for them to listen to my side, but nobody was willing to listen to me. I had to petition the National Appeal Committee and the Regional Appeal Committee with my evidence,” he stated.
According to Mr. Akumbo, the main issue surrounding his eligibility was a discrepancy between his birth certificate and voter identification card.
“My original birth certificate is 1988, which makes me 38 years. But in my voter ID, there has been an additional two years, which is 40 years,” he said.
He explained that after submitting his petition to the National Appeal Committee, the matter was considered within two days, after which the national body communicated through the Regional Chairman that he should be reinstated and allowed to campaign.
“He forwarded the message to me and asked me to start my campaign. I started the campaign,” he added.
However, Mr. Akumbo said he was later informed by the Regional Chairman that, following further deliberations, all the affected aspirants would not be allowed to contest.
“I thought it was just the usual, probably he was trying to scare me. I continued my campaign. Only to be told that within two or three days he will open nominations for fresh candidates to pick up,” he recounted.
He said the subsequent developments had created perceptions among some party members that there were attempts to favour a particular candidate.
“All of a sudden, people, allegations and then counter-allegations. What we are hearing is they are preparing to protect a candidate. This is a party we are building,” he said.
Mr. Akumbo stressed that his concern was not about individual candidates but about protecting internal democracy and strengthening confidence among the party’s grassroots supporters ahead of the 2028 general elections.
“If they want unity ahead of 2028, they should allow us to contest and let delegates make the choice,” he said.
He argued that leaders who emerge through competitive elections command greater legitimacy among party members than those who assume office without facing delegates.
Despite his dissatisfaction with the process, Mr. Akumbo said he remained committed to the NPP and would continue supporting the party.
“I will work for the party, but let delegates choose who leads the youth wing,” he stated.
The Upper East Regional Youth Organiser contest has generated debate within the NPP following Mr. Musah’s return from the Regional Secretary race and his emergence as the only qualified aspirant after the vetting process.
Source: Bolgafmonline.com |102.7 MHz |Bolgatanga
