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Seasoned Journalist, Kwesi Pratt , has expressed concerns over the internal politics in the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) where billboards of some leading members of the party aspiring to be flagbearer for the NPP have been erected in Kumasi, Ashanti Region.

The New Patriotic Party is gearing up for one of its major conferences which will be held at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

According to the leadership of the party, there will be no elections on the day of the conference as it is meant to discuss welfare issues of the members and consider recommendations from constituency and regional delegates conferences to improve the fortunes of the party.

The conference will also come up with initiatives to support the government to enable it to pursue the NPP agenda of breaking the eight-year cycle.

The conference is to be attended by all former Presidents, Vice Presidents and the incumbent President and Vice President of the Republic as well as national and regional executives among others.

Ahead of the Kumasi conference which comes off this Saturday, December 18, the party leadership has placed a ban on all activities associated with internal party contests, Presidential and Parliamentary primaries as well as the display of paraphernalia and advocacy for aspirants at the conference venue.

“Prior to and during the conference from December 18 to 20, 2021, no billboards and or signboards, banners or any kind of outdoor signage with the images and or names of individual members, with or without the consent of the individual, shall be acceptable. This applies to the area within the Greater Kumasi Metropolis. All such displays, if put up already, should be removed,” a statement issued by the party said.

However, there are reports of giant billboards being raised in Kumasi with the faces of some of the Presidential hopefuls who although haven't yet declared their intentions but their supporters have already projected them and campaigning for them.

The NPP has warned that “any person, with or without his or her consent, whose image is flaunted on any advocacy material and who does not take active steps to desist from any public display of aspiration for a position within the precincts of Greater Kumasi runs a higher risk of disqualification in the event nominations are declared open”.

But Kwesi Pratt has taken the party's warning with a pinch of salt.

To him, it will be difficult for them to enforce the warning as it may not apply to some Presidential hopefuls within the party.

Citing the Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia who has been ticked to lead the party into the 2024 elections, Kwesi Pratt asked if they can indeed disqualify the Vice President should he flout the regulations of no billboards, no campaigns and so forth as issued by the NPP leadership.

Speaking on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', he posed some questions to the NPP as food for thought.

"It will be difficult to follow the instructions...We all know the Vice President craves for the position. Am I lying? The Vice President also has his duties which he has to concentrate on. A Minister also has his job which he needs to also focus on and shouldn't do anything that will interfere with his work. What about the Vice President? Should the Vice President flout the regulations, can they sack him?"

"When making rules and regulations, there should be equality. It should apply to everybody equally. I want to ask, if our Vice President doesn't obey the regulations, will he be dismissed? And if he doesn't follow the rules and regulations and will go scot free, why should the others comply with them?" he queried.