Ghana: NPP remains a national party, not ethnic or religious – Tampuli

The Member of Parliament representing Gushegu, Hassan Tampuli, has reiterated the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) dedication to its national identity, warning against efforts to categorise the party along ethnic or religious lines.

During a political event in Gushegu supporting Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s candidacy, Mr. Tampuli emphasised that the NPP was established on the principles of inclusivity, national unity, and broad participation, rather than on sectional interests.

He remarked that Ghana’s political history and constitutional framework explicitly reject discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, or region, highlighting that the NPP’s philosophical foundations are firmly rooted in these principles.

As stated by the Gushegu MP, the party’s foundations are linked to significant events in the nation’s constitutional and political evolution, starting with the enactment of the Avoidance of Discrimination Act in 1957 during Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s administration.

He clarified that this Act prohibited sectional, tribal, and religious political parties, a principle that was later reinforced in Article 55(4) of the 1992 Constitution.

Mr. Tampuli traced the NPP’s origins to a wide coalition of political movements, which included the National Liberation Movement, Northern People’s Party, Togoland Congress, Muslim Action Party, and the Ga Shifimo Kpee Party.

He noted that these groups eventually united to form the United Party, which later transformed into the New Patriotic Party.

He cautioned against what he referred to as attempts by “little minds” to misrepresent the party’s history or promote narrow agendas that could jeopardise its unity and national appeal, asserting that the NPP would oppose any efforts to convert it into an ethnic or religious organisation.

“Let’s not make a mistake. The NPP party is a national party. In December 1957, the Nkrumah government passed the Avoidance of Discrimination Act in which Parliament outlawed sectional, tribal and religious parties and that has been repeated in the 1992 Constitution under Article 55.4 that says that every political party should be national in character. The NPP will continue to remain a national party,” he said.

Source: TheGhanaReport | Read the Full Story…