Former Upper West Regional Minister, Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih, has urged delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to prioritise competence, loyalty and commitment over wealth when electing party executives.
He warned that the growing influence of money in internal elections poses a threat to the party’s chances in the 2028 general elections.
In an article titled “Initial Steps to Recalibrate the NPP’s Compass for a Positive Outcome in the 2028 General Election,” published on his Facebook page on Sunday, Dr. Bin Salih cautioned that the commercialisation of leadership contests risks weakening the party’s grassroots structures and long-term electoral prospects.
“When wealth becomes the primary yardstick for choosing our executives, the party itself becomes poorer,” he stated.
According to the former regional minister, the future of the NPP rests in the hands of delegates who elect executives at the various levels of the party’s organisational structure.
He said delegates must place greater value on competence, loyalty and commitment to the party’s ideals than on the financial strength of aspirants.
Dr. Bin Salih argued that allowing financial capability to become the main qualification for leadership would compromise the party’s collective future and undermine efforts to rebuild a formidable political organisation capable of winning future elections.
He identified what he described as the consequences of money-driven leadership selection, including the alienation of long-serving grassroots members, weak connections between party leaders and ordinary supporters, and the erosion of strategic and organisational capacity.
According to him, “wealth can buy visibility, but it cannot buy genuine fellowship,” stressing that leaders selected primarily because of their financial resources often struggle to relate to the everyday concerns of party supporters.
The former minister further warned that a party sustained by financial patronage rather than ideas and competent leadership would eventually suffer a deficit in strategic planning, conflict resolution and policy development.
To reverse the trend, Dr. Bin Salih proposed five key criteria for selecting party executives: competence, mobilisation ability, sacrifice, empathy and a proven track record of service to the party.
He explained that prospective leaders must demonstrate the ability to manage party structures, resolve internal disputes, mobilise supporters, show commitment during difficult periods in opposition, and possess a verifiable record of loyalty and contributions to the party.
Dr. Bin Salih also appealed to delegates, elders and other stakeholders to resist material inducements during internal elections.
“The time has come for delegates, elders, and stakeholders to do the needful. Reclaiming the soul of the party demands the courage to look beyond immediate material inducements and vote for sustainable institutional strength,” he stated.
He expressed confidence that by prioritising competence and character over financial influence, the NPP could rebuild a united and energised party capable of restoring its electoral fortunes in the 2028 general election.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
