A Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Asah-Asante, has criticised the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for sidelining former President John Agyekum Kufuor in its decision-making processes.

Reacting to Kufuor’s public expression of discontent over being excluded from internal party consultations, Dr Asah-Asante said such actions undermine the party’s own tradition of consensus-building and risk alienating a revered figure whose contributions to the party’s identity are unmatched.

“When you look at what has transpired, you get the feeling that all is not well,” Dr Asah-Asante said on Joy FM’s Top Story on Monday, July 14.

“If you look at the NEC [National Executive Committee], people who are made up of the NEC include former presidents, so why would they not involve President Kufuor in their dealings?” he questioned. “I don’t know the reason, but it doesn’t hold well for a party such as the NPP, which is a very strong one.”

Dr Asah-Asante noted that former President Kufuor, having led the country for eight years and nurtured many of the party’s current leaders, possesses a wealth of institutional memory and political wisdom that should not be ignored.

“In terms of governance and experience, he has more experience than anybody that you can think of in the party,” he stressed.

“He’s somebody they can go to for advice, for direction, and then for ideas. Above all, he’s also seen it all, knows it all.”

Dr Asah-Asante further stated that with the experience the former president has, "it gives so a lot of ideas that if you are looking at people who matter, you cannot talk without him."

He warned that pushing away respected elder statesmen could be detrimental to the party’s internal cohesion, particularly as it faces the challenge of rebuilding after its 2024 electoral defeat.

“Anytime there is an important decision to take, you need such people. Such people come in with experience, ideas, and above all, they are very important towering personalities within the party,” he added.