Dr. Amoako Baah Reveals Missed Opportunity to Lead Electoral Commission, Resigns from NPP
Political scientist and former leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Richard Amoako Baah, has disclosed that he lost the chance to become Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana during the tenure of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo due to his involvement in the party’s internal elections.
Speaking during an interview on Dwaso Nsem on Adom FM, Dr. Baah revealed that his decision to contest the NPP National Chairmanship was not based on personal ambition, but rather a strategic move to get closer to the presidency and help guide decisions at the highest level.
I didn’t need the chairmanship role for anything. I just wanted to be close enough to help the President make the right calls, he stated. But in the end, only 18 people in the party truly understood my intentions.”
According to Dr. Baah, after losing the internal election, he was informed by Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a known confidant and relative of President Akufo-Addo, that his decision to contest had cost him the opportunity to be considered for the role of Electoral Commission Chair.
“One day, Gabby asked why I entered the chairmanship race. He told me I was being considered for the Electoral Commission Chair role, but my involvement in the elections ruined that plan, he recounted.
Dr. Baah also expressed deep concerns over what he described as an inner circle of individuals who wield disproportionate influence in the party. Is that how we run a party where only a few people get to decide everything? he questioned.
Citing long-standing frustrations with the leadership of the party and its disconnect from grassroots supporters, Dr. Baah officially announced his resignation from the NPP on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
He also hinted at plans to form a new political movement named the New Patriotic Front (NPF), claiming that the idea has already received the support of approximately 36 influential NPP members who share his concerns about the party’s direction.
The announcement marks a significant development in Ghana’s political landscape, as Dr. Baah’s decision could have implications for the NPP’s internal cohesion and the broader opposition ahead of the 2028 general elections.