NPP unfazed by United Party’s rejection of amnesty

The National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Salam Mustapha, has responded to the United Party’s rejection of the NPP’s amnesty offer, stating that the party remains committed to fostering internal unity and reconciliation.

Speaking on JoyFM’s Top Story on Thursday, October 16, Salam dismissed claims that the amnesty offer was a desperate move, insisting it was a strategic effort to rebuild the party and move forward after a period of internal suspensions and resignations.

“I don’t think that we are panicked at all. As a political party, we understand the need for internal cohesion,” Salam said. “A number of suspensions were done before and during the election, and we thought that looking at where we were as a party, it was prudent to clean up our slate and offer amnesty to all members who had pending issues before the disciplinary committee or who, for one reason or another, were suspended.”

His remarks come after the newly rebranded United Party (formerly the Movement for Change), led by Alan Kyeremateng, publicly rejected the amnesty extended by the NPP.

At the party’s launch, United Party National Chairman Abubakar Saddique Boniface dismissed the offer as “morally unjustified,” arguing that no wrongdoing had occurred to warrant forgiveness.

“They sacked us from the NPP, and now they want to offer amnesty? What crime did our leader commit? What crime did I commit? And now you are telling me you are giving me amnesty? No way,” Boniface said, likening the split to a final divorce.

Responding to this, Mustapha Salam explained that under NPP rules, members who resigned or went against the party’s sponsored candidates automatically forfeited their membership and would need to apply formally if they wished to return.

“When you resign from the party voluntarily, you have left. If you wish to rejoin, you must apply,” he stated. “Again, in the constitution of the party, when the party sponsors a candidate and you go against that candidate, you automatically forfeit your membership. To rejoin, you must go through a formal process.”

He added that while some individuals may reject the offer, several others had already returned to the party following the amnesty announcement.

“A number of people have rejoined the party based on the amnesty that was granted. Some of the long-standing disciplinary actions have been resolved, and we are rebuilding the party from a fresh, united front,” Salam said.

Alan Kyerematen, a former Minister of Trade and Industry, resigned from the NPP in 2023 citing unfair treatment. He later formed the Movement for Change, which has now transitioned into the United Party ahead of the 2028 elections. Despite the NPP’s call for reconciliation, the United Party maintains it has moved on and is not seeking a return.

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