A group of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Constituency and Polling Station Executives currently studying or temporarily residing abroad have petitioned the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Council to approve the use of proxy voting in the upcoming presidential primary.

The petition, dated 18th November 2025 and addressed to the NEC Chairman through the General Secretary, argues that denying executives outside Ghana the right to vote by proxy would amount to unconstitutional disenfranchisement and undermine internal party democracy.

The executives anchored their request on Article 25 of the NPP Constitution, which permits proxy voting for any registered voter who is either ill or absent from their constituency on polling day. They emphasised that the provision is clear and unambiguous, noting that their temporary residence outside Ghana qualifies as legitimate grounds under Article 25(1)(b): “Absent from the constituency and unable to vote on polling day.”

They further cited the Constitution’s detailed procedures on proxy application, verification, and limitations, stressing that proxy voting is a codified right—not an exception or privilege.

The petition warned that disallowing proxy voting for executives abroad would:

Contravene the letter and spirit of Article 25

Disenfranchise duly elected party leaders whose mandates are still active

Create unequal treatment based solely on geographic location

Exclude committed party members—particularly students and young professionals—who continue to champion NPP’s interests internationally

The petitioners also framed their request as a matter of strategic necessity, given that the NPP is currently in opposition. They argued that compelling overseas executives to travel to Ghana solely to cast a vote would impose significant financial burdens, with airfare costs often in the hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Such expenditures, they said, could instead be channelled into critical party activities, including grassroots mobilisation, media outreach, youth engagement, and campaign operations ahead of the general election.

The signatories appealed to party leadership to:

Allow all constituency executives temporarily abroad to vote by proxy in accordance with Article 25.

Issue clear procedural guidelines to facilitate the proxy voting process.

Direct constituency and regional secretariats to support affected executives with documentation.

In their concluding remarks, the petitioners urged the party to uphold fairness, unity, and democratic integrity as it works toward reclaiming power. They stressed that allowing proxy voting would affirm the NPP’s longstanding commitment to inclusive internal processes and ensure that no executive is “silenced by circumstance or distance.” The petition was signed by 12 executives residing in the USA, UK, Germany, and Canada, including:

Bismark Osei Akowuah – 1st Vice Chairman, Obuasi East Constituency (USA)

Shaibu Yusif Bambah – Organiser, Bantama Constituency (Germany)

Enoch K. Baah – Youth Organiser, Akrofuom Constituency (UK)

Jones Osei Asamoah – Organiser, Asante Akyem Central Constituency (USA)

Felix Amakye – Secretary, Asante Akyem Central Constituency (USA)

Daniel Obeng – Youth Organiser, Obuasi East Constituency (UK)

Agnes Adu Yeboah – Research & Elections Officer, Asante Akyem Central (UK)

And others.

Copies of the petition were also sent to the Chairman of the National Council, all aspiring presidential candidates, the Presidential Elections Committee, and the NPP Council of Elders.