By Issah Olegor
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has officially begun proceedings to expel Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, a renowned surgeon and former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, following his public condemnation of the party’s leadership and internal processes.
The development marks one of the most high-profile clashes within the party in recent years, drawing attention to concerns over internal democracy and the party’s direction ahead of future elections.
The controversy stems from an interview aired on Channel One TV on Monday, January 12, 2026, where Prof. Frimpong-Boateng described the current NPP as a “fake party,” asserting that it no longer reflects the values that defined the party in his experience.
In the same interview, he stated unequivocally that he no longer considers himself a member of the party, accusing the leadership of undermining the principles of transparency and accountability.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng was particularly critical of the 2023 NPP Presidential Primary, which produced former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the party’s flagbearer for the 2024 general elections.
He alleged that the selection process was marred by manipulation, bribery, and intimidation of delegates, and warned that re-electing Dr. Bawumia without addressing these issues would be a “trainwreck.” “Look at how they elected their last flagbearer — twisting people’s arms, bribing delegates, intimidating others.
This is the beginning of corruption,” he said during the interview. Despite these criticisms, he clarified that Dr. Bawumia is a “nice person” but stressed that personal traits alone are insufficient to lead the party and the country.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng also linked the internal challenges he described to the NPP’s poor performance in the 2024 elections, noting that the party had failed to address the root causes of its defeat.
He urged party leadership, including Dr. Bawumia, to publicly distance themselves from figures associated with past economic difficulties under the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as a way to restore credibility and regain the confidence of the electorate.
In response to the interview, the NPP’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, issued a statement on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, condemning Prof. Frimpong-Boateng’s comments as “highly reprehensible and inimical to the values, unity, and integrity of the party.”
The statement rejected all allegations of irregularities in the 2023 Presidential Primary, asserting that the process was conducted transparently and in full compliance with party rules.
“The primary was widely acknowledged by all candidates and party members as free, fair, and credible,” the statement said.
The NPP confirmed that it has invoked the relevant provisions of its constitution to commence formal expulsion procedures against Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, stressing that the process will adhere strictly to due process.
The move underscores the tension within the party between longstanding members and current leadership over issues of governance, credibility, and internal democracy.
