Former Environment Minister Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng has warned over what he calls the “family and friends rule” threatening the future of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

In an article titled 'Let's save NPP', he said the party’s leadership is ignoring the mood of its members and the danger looming over its future.

“I am amazed how members of the NPP National Executive and some regional chairpersons are going about their daily routine as if they do not know the state of the party, the mood of the majority of party members and the potential danger awaiting the party in the near future,” he said.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng criticised the party for failing to learn from its “disgraceful” defeat in the last general election.

Instead of analysing the loss, he said, the National Executive, hiding behind a “spineless” National Executive Council (NEC), has concealed reports and abandoned the tradition of electing a flag-bearer two years before the election.

He called the top-down approach a “beginning of rigging and corruption of the electoral process.”

“The incompetent national executive members and their puppet masters that led the party to the abominable and disgraceful defeat are orchestrating these schemes just because they want their preferred candidate to be elected again, whether by fair or foul means,” he said.

He warned that the party risks low voter turnout among disillusioned members, as was witnessed in December 2024.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng specifically named Dr Bawumia, the current favourite for the January 2026 flag-bearer race, saying the last internal election that elected him was manipulated.

“Weak delegates had their arms twisted, corrupt ones were allegedly bribed, and the cowardly were intimidated to vote for Dr Bawumia,” he said.

He added that this led to widespread apathy and contributed to the party’s electoral defeat.

He warned that the same “family and friends government” mentality is at play again.

“Those who conceptualised and are rolling out the top-down election process will stop at nothing to rig the elections for Dr Bawumia,” he said.

He criticised the Chairman of the Council of Elders for ignoring wise counsel from senior party members like Kwame Pianim, Kwadwo Mpiani, and Dr Agyei Bawuah.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng accused the former President and his allies of controlling the party remotely through the Chairman and creating a biased environment.

“Allowing the January 2026 flag-bearer election to be managed by an incompetent National Executive, and supervised by a toothless NEC remotely controlled by a past President and his family members, removes any level playing field,” he said.

He also highlighted the legacy of the previous NPP government, describing it as a variation of “family and friends’ government” that “controlled the press not through violence but through bribery and intimidation” and failed to curb corruption, environmental degradation, and economic mismanagement.

The former minister called on the party to reject divisive tactics and ensure fairness in the upcoming election.

“If Dr Bawumia cannot read between the lines because of power, fame, and wealth, then I want him to think carefully about his future and reputation,” he said.

He urged delegates to consider whether they want a party controlled by the same individuals who “neglected the grassroots, ruined the economy, and adopted a lukewarm attitude towards the environment” to lead the NPP into the 2028 elections.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng concluded that the party must return to a time-tested bottom-up approach and avoid falling for schemes designed to consolidate power within a select circle.

“Do we want an all-inclusive NPP or one that is controlled by people, including an arrogant but otherwise empty ‘Prime Minister,’ a declared fugitive, and their other ‘Nouveau Riche’ family members and friends to continue to control the Party post January 2026? Niemals!”