Akwatia MP Bernard Baidoo has questioned Kojo Bamba’s eligibility to serve as NPP First Vice Chairman, citing a previous conviction involving members of the Delta Force vigilante group.
Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana, Baidoo referred to Article 3 of the NPP constitution, which sets out conditions for members seeking party positions.
He argued that Bamba’s previous conviction should have been considered during the party’s vetting process.
“I’m so shocked how NPP got it wrong because if you read Article 3 of their constitution, it talks about eligibility to hold an office within their party,” Baidoo said.
He referred to a 2017 case in which 13 members of the Delta Force were convicted and fined GHc2,400 each for escaping from lawful custody.
Baidoo identified Bamba as one of those convicted and questioned whether that history should have affected his eligibility to contest the NPP election.
During the discussion, NPP’s Mike Oquaye Jnr challenged Baidoo’s interpretation, pointing out that the offence was a misdemeanor.
“Why do you say we don’t do?” Oquaye asked, arguing that a misdemeanor conviction does not automatically prevent a person from contesting an election.
Baidoo maintained that the NPP’s own constitution must be examined alongside the criminal law.
“I’m reading to you your constitution,” he insisted.
He said the issue should therefore be determined by the party’s eligibility rules and not simply by the classification of the offence under the Criminal Offences Act.
