Francis Ayenu commends NPP directive on premature campaigning, calls for consideration of orphan constituencies

Lawyer and businessman Francis Ayenu, says the directive is timely but urges the party to consider the peculiar circumstances of constituencies without incumbent NPP MPs.

Francis Ayenu, popularly known as Rob, an East Legon-based lawyer and businessman with substantial commercial interests in Ayawaso West Wuogon, has commended the General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong, and the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) for directing prospective parliamentary aspirants to cease all campaign activities ahead of the party’s parliamentary selection processes.

In his estimation, the directive is a necessary intervention to preserve party discipline, promote fairness among aspirants and prevent premature contests from undermining the unity required for the NPP’s electoral success.

Mr Ayenu believes the decision reflects the party leadership’s responsibility to maintain order and ensure that the eventual parliamentary selection process is conducted within a clear and fair framework. He also observes that many of the complaints that informed the directive may have originated from constituencies where the NPP currently has sitting Members of Parliament, whose records and positions within the party could make premature campaigning a source of tension.

He was, however, quick to draw attention to the peculiar circumstances of constituencies where the NPP has no sitting Member of Parliament, commonly referred to as orphan constituencies. In these areas, he believes, the party may need to consider how the directive affects legitimate party-building activities, particularly in constituencies where the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has sitting MPs and remains actively engaged with constituents.

Speaking on the matter, Mr Ayenu said: “In my estimation, this is a fantastic directive, and we are grateful to the General Secretary and, by extension, the NEC for taking this important step. I believe our sitting MPs have done a great job, and many of the complaints that informed this decision may well have come from constituencies where we have incumbent MPs.

“However, I respectfully believe that the peculiar circumstances of orphan constituencies may merit further consideration. In Ayawaso West Wuogon, for instance, when the University of Ghana reopens, it is only proper that we usher in the new academic year with activities that strengthen our party’s presence, engage students and reconnect with the wider constituency. If the directive is applied in a way that brings all such activities to a halt, we risk leaving the responsibility entirely to TESCON and the regional party, even when willing party members are available to contribute.

“This is not to question the directive or the authority of the party. On the contrary, I commend the leadership for acting in the interest of discipline and fairness. My appeal is simply that, as we uphold the directive, we also consider how best to sustain legitimate party engagement in constituencies where we have no sitting MP, particularly when our political opponents remain active. We must protect the integrity of our internal processes while ensuring that our party does not lose ground in the constituencies we hope to win.”

The NPP’s directive, issued by General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong on 11 October 2026, followed complaints that some prospective parliamentary aspirants had begun campaigning in their constituencies. It ordered an immediate halt to activities including rallies, promotional materials, inducements and paid media advertising, while warning that breaches could attract disciplinary sanctions. The statement also specifically barred party officers and TESCON executives from promoting aspirants on social media or facilitating premature campaigning.

With the NPP having completed its internal elections from the polling station level through to the national executive level, the parliamentary primaries remain the major internal hurdle ahead of the 2028 general elections. As the party prepares for this final stage, Mr Ayenu’s intervention raises a pertinent question: how can the NPP maintain discipline and fairness among aspirants while ensuring that constituencies without incumbent MPs remain politically active and competitive? For him, the answer lies in upholding the directive while giving due consideration to the different realities confronting constituencies across the country.