The North East Regional Executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are facing sharp criticism from party supporters after it emerged that they have been conducting official meetings and administrative activities in a church building due to the absence of a regional party office.
The development, which many grassroots members describe as embarrassing and a sign of leadership failure, has triggered internal agitation. Some supporters are now calling for all incumbent regional executives to be replaced in the next regional elections, arguing that the party needs more proactive and competent leaders.
Information gathered indicates that since the party’s formation, the regional secretariat has struggled to secure a permanent office space.
The first facility that served as a party office in Nalerigu was built near the Old Court in 2005 by former Member of Parliament Hajia Alimah Mahama. That building, which functioned as both constituency and regional office, deteriorated over the years and has now been abandoned and taken over by corn and rice millers.
Following the creation of the new regions in 2019, party meetings shifted to the newly established Regional Coordinating Directorate, but this stopped after the NPP lost power in December 2024.
Ahead of the 2020 elections, the then newly elected executives, led by Chairman Nurudeen Fusein, rented a facility in the Old Palace area to serve as the regional party office. However, that structure was destroyed in 2023 by irate youth protesting alleged government interference in the Bawku chieftaincy dispute.
With no replacement secured, the party’s administrative work and key meetings are now being held in a church auditorium known as Blessed Chapel, also called Pastor Peter’s Church, located north of Nalerigu. The space was temporarily offered by a party sympathiser.
A frustrated supporter who spoke to JoyNews said the development has brought embarrassment to the party.
“How can the home region of the Vice President of a party that was in power for eight years operate from a church? It’s shameful. It shows our executives have failed us. If they couldn’t even secure an office, how were they expected to win us more votes?” the supporter said.
Another member lamented the impact on the morale of grassroots activists.
“We go to the office and only see damaged buildings because there’s no permanent place. The old one has been turned into a storage space for local rice millers. Meanwhile, the executives claim they are working for the people. What kind of leadership is this?”
Some members have already begun mobilising support to vote out the current executives in the upcoming regional elections, insisting that only a complete overhaul will restore confidence in the party’s regional leadership.
Responding to the concerns, the North East Regional Secretary of the NPP, Lawyer Sully Sambian, confirmed that the party is using a temporary meeting space but rejected claims of negligence.
“We have not built a party office—that is a fact,” he acknowledged. “The last time we discussed it with the chairman, he mentioned that one of the party stalwarts in the region had offered land around the BMC area. We have to follow up on that to see how far it has gone.”
When asked whether executives who failed to secure a party office should be allowed to contest again, he said:
“I think that decision rests with the delegates. I don’t recall any government or administration fulfilling all its promises.”
Lawyer Sambian added that if elected as Regional Chairman, he would prioritise the construction of party offices in all constituencies and establish a new regional headquarters. He appealed to delegates to support his aspirations in the coming elections.
Political analysts caution that the controversy could intensify internal divisions within the North East NPP as grassroots frustration mounts ahead of the next round of internal polls.
The North East Region remains a critical battleground for the party, and maintaining unity will be vital as the NPP positions itself for the 2028 general elections.