Why Sylvester Tetteh was not included in the list of NPP members who were ‘fired’

On Monday, November 20, 2023, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) suspended the membership of a few of its members for publicly endorsing Alan Kyerematen, a former party member.

Hopeson Adorye, Nana Ohene Ntow, Boniface Abubakar Saddique, and Yaw Buaben Asamoa were all suspended from the NPP, according to a statement, for going against the party’s stance of endorsing the candidacies of candidates who are not on its tickets.

The Member of Parliament for Bortianor-Ngleshi-Amanfro, Sylvester Tetteh, who played a significant role in Kyerematen’s campaign while he was a member of the NPP, was conspicuously absent from this list.

The NPP constitution’s Article 3(5)(A)(4) mandates that all members “abide by and publicly uphold the decision of the party.”

The clause further states that “a member who stands as an independent candidate against the officially elected party member, or supports another political party or independent candidate when the party has sponsored a candidate in an election, automatically forfeits party membership.”

However, Sylvester Tetteh was able to escape being included to the list of suspended members, according to GhanaWeb, since he acted quickly after Alan Kyerematen said that he would not be participating in the November 4, 2023, race and that he would eventually resign from the New Patriotic Party.

Tetteh immediately distanced himself from the Alan campaign once his old “boss” resigned and fully backed Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to take the party’s banner.

“It is obvious that the NPP rank and file support the candidacy of Vice-President Bawumia,” the MP said when Alan withdrew from the contest. “In light of that, I have decided, in consultation with my constituents, to join Team Bawumia.”

He emphasized that because Alan Kyerematen was eliminated from the campaign, he had to select one of the remaining contenders, and he decided on Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia because he thought the doctor would be a great president.

“I am making a firm commitment that I will support Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for the 4 November elections,” Tetteh stated.

In accordance with the party rules, this change exempted him from suspension, which distinguished him from his colleagues who have recently been subject to disciplinary action by the party.

Unlike Sylvester Tetteh, the others: Hopeson Adorye, Nana Ohene Ntow, Boniface Abubakar Saddique, and Yaw Buaben Asamoa, the party considers them as still holding allegiance to Alan Kyerematen and his new Movement for Change, hence their dismissal.