News
Party members have a choice, not an obligation – Arthur Kennedy on NPP rebuilding efforts
A leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Arthur Kennedy, has argued that party supporters are not obliged to vote for any candidate simply because they belong to the party.
In his view, party members have the freedom to decide who to support, and candidates must work to earn their votes.
Speaking during discussions on the NPP’s reorganisation and rebuilding ahead of the 2028 general elections, Dr. Kennedy rejected the notion that loyalty alone should determine voting behaviour within the party.
“You often hear people say every good party member needs to support our candidate. No, they don’t. They have a choice,” he noted.
He stressed that voters ultimately decide based on performance and credibility.
“If, by election day, they believe you have earned their vote, they will vote for you. If not, they will stay home or vote for your opponent,” he added.
Dr. Kennedy also weighed in on debates surrounding the party’s internal election processes, especially claims that a different voting system could have changed the outcome of recent contests.
Touching on the candidates presented at the party’s last internal election, he observed that it is difficult to rely on assumptions about outcomes that were never tested.
“If the executive-level voting approach had been used, would it have produced a different verdict? That cannot be known because it was never applied,” he explained.
He cautioned political actors against excessive speculation, emphasising that democratic politics must rest on clear and legitimate procedures.
“In politics, we must be careful with hypotheticals,” he stressed.
Dr. Kennedy maintained that he would have accepted the outcome of the process regardless of the result, provided it was fair and transparent.
“If the process had been legitimate and delivered the same result, I would have embraced it fully,” he stated.
His remarks come at a time when the NPP is engaged in internal discussions on strengthening party unity and rebuilding public confidence ahead of the 2028 elections.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, says Parliament and government officials are working closely with authorities in the Netherlands following the detention of the Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, Kwame Ohene Frimpong.
Speaking on the matter on Channel One news yesterday, Mr. Dafeamekpor disclosed that the MP was detained at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam on Sunday while travelling on a private trip.
According to him, Mr. Frimpong personally informed him about the incident around 5 a.m. on the day of the arrest.
He said the issue was immediately escalated to parliamentary leadership and other state officials for intervention.
Mr. Dafeamekpor explained that the Majority Leader, who was in transit at Heathrow Airport in London at the time, travelled to Schiphol to engage the detained MP and better understand the situation.
He added that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ghana’s Ambassador to The Hague, the Attorney General, the Speaker of Parliament and the Clerk to Parliament had all been involved in efforts to address the matter.
According to him, a Ghanaian lawyer based in The Hague and qualified to practise there has also been engaged to represent the MP.
“The lawyer is dealing with the issues, but let me confirm that he is fine,” Mr. Dafeamekpor stated.
He noted that Parliament and the legal team were still waiting for official documents, including an authenticated copy of the arrest warrant and other details from Dutch prosecutors handling the matter.
The South Dayi MP therefore urged the media and the public to avoid speculation until all facts surrounding the case are confirmed.
“We want to urge all the media houses not to be throwing in things that have not been confirmed,” he said.
Mr. Dafeamekpor further explained that Parliament’s involvement was partly because the MP was travelling with a diplomatic passport.
He noted that extradition and detention cases involving political figures are not uncommon internationally, citing examples such as former Chilean leader Augusto Pinochet and Julian Assange.
According to him, authorities are hopeful the matter can be resolved for the MP to return to Ghana safely.
He appealed to the MP’s family, colleagues in Parliament and the public to remain calm while diplomatic and legal processes continue.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana Water Ltd has announced temporary water supply interruptions in several parts of western Accra following technical challenges at the Weija Water Treatment Plant.
In a press release issued on May 13, the company explained that the challenges had affected water production and distribution in some communities.
According to the management of the company, residents in areas including Dansoman, Mamprobi, Mataheko, Laterbiokorshie, Korle Bu, La Paz, MacCarthy Hill, Gbawe, Mallam, Tesano, Darkuman, North Kaneshie, Dome, Achimota, Anyaa and Ablekuma may experience low water pressure and erratic water supply.
Management noted that engineers and technical teams were working to fix the problem and restore normal water supply as soon as possible.
The company advised consumers to store water whenever there is flow in their communities in order to manage the temporary disruption.
It urged essential service providers to contact their Assembly Members or the Ghana Water Ltd Call Centre for assistance.
The company apologized to customers affected by the situation and appealed for calm and cooperation while efforts continue to resolve the challenge.
By: Jacob Aggrey
