Bawumia Loyalists Slam Ex-Common Fund Boss Over Veep Ambitions
By Gifty Boateng
Factional tensions within Ghana’s opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) have intensified following a public rebuke of Irene Naa Torshie Addo, the former Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund and ex-MP for Tema West. Her recent pivot from Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia’s camp to that of presidential hopeful Kennedy Agyapong has triggered a wave of internal criticism, effectively ending speculation about her potential candidacy for the vice-presidential slot in 2028.
Former NPP Communications Director Yaw Adomako Baafi, speaking on Movement TV, dismissed Addo’s prospects, citing her alleged poor interpersonal conduct and strained relations with party officials. “She is not fit for purpose,” Baafi said, accusing her of disrespecting MPs and undermining party cohesion.
Addo’s departure from Bawumia’s camp is widely interpreted as a strategic move after being overlooked for the vice-presidential ticket in 2024, which ultimately went to then-Energy Minister Matthew Opoku Prempeh. Her alignment with Agyapong is believed to be based on assurances of future elevation, though party insiders remain sceptical.
The controversy has reignited scrutiny of Addo’s tenure at the Common Fund. Baafi and other critics allege that under her administration, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) were starved of resources, contributing to poor local governance outcomes. Comparisons were drawn with allocations under the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, which reportedly increased district-level funding significantly.
Further allegations include claims that Addo withheld fertilizer supplies intended for farmers, a move that some party members mistakenly attributed to former Agriculture Minister Bryan Acheampong. Baafi suggested that Addo’s control over distribution channels exceeded her official remit, raising questions about internal oversight.
Relations between Addo and other senior figures, including former Local Government Minister Dan Botwe, were reportedly strained. Baafi accused her of obstructing fund disbursements and contributing to the financial marginalisation of MPs and DCEs during the Akufo-Addo administration.
The episode has exposed deeper fractures within the NPP, with Baafi warning that the party risks repeating past mistakes unless it addresses internal exclusion and patronage politics. He criticised senior party figures for failing to challenge executive decisions, accusing them of prioritising personal gain over institutional integrity.
While Addo has not publicly responded to the accusations, her political future within the NPP appears increasingly uncertain. The party’s leadership, already grappling with post-Akufo-Addo realignments, may find it difficult to reconcile competing factions ahead of the 2028 elections.