NPP First National Vice Chairman, Dankwah Smith Butey
Following the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) significant defeat in the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections, First National Vice Chairman of the party Dankwah Smith Butey has called for the dismissal of all national executives, including himself.
In an interview on Sompa FM, Chairman Butey described the party’s leadership as a failure, pointing to the reduction of parliamentary seats from 137 in 2020 to 88 in 2024 as a “shameful” outcome.
“For me, I want all the national executives to be sacked, including myself. I, as First Vice Chairman, am saying that everyone must be sacked, including myself. We have failed. What else are we going to do? We were given 137 seats and ended up reducing it to 88. Is that not shameful?” Butey stated.
He emphasised the need for fresh leadership, arguing that the party does not belong to any individual and that its interests must supersede personal and financial ambitions.
Chairman Butey criticised executives seeking re-election, accusing them of prioritising personal gain over the party’s welfare.
“Every executive member who is now thinking of seeking re-election does not have the interest of the party at heart. They are only interested in their pockets,” he said.
He also rejected claims that former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was solely responsible for the defeat, asserting that the executives failed to hold him accountable.
“We sat aloof and watched him do it, and now you are complaining… we must accept that we caused our defeat, not Akufo-Addo,” he added.
The NPP’s 2024 loss, which saw the National Democratic Congress (NDC) secure 183 parliamentary seats in a landslide victory, has been attributed to internal discord and leadership failures, as highlighted in a party post-election report.
The party in a bid to rebuild following the defeat has declared a nationwide ‘Thank You Tour’ to be embarked on by flagbearer candidates and leadership of the party.
GA/MA