Former parliamentary aspirant for Kpone Katamanso, Hopeson Adorye, has cautioned the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) against taking any action to suspend party members for statements made during the campaign for the presidential primaries.

He pointed out that while the party's Members of Parliament and certain regional executives freely declare their support for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and criticize other presidential contenders, the party leadership remains silent. However, they are now adopting a different stance, threatening to disqualify and suspend individuals who defend themselves.

During an interview on Atinka TV, Adorye criticized the party's national executives for showing favoritism in dealing with matters related to the primaries. He further asserted that the party leadership does not have the authority to disqualify any of the candidates in the upcoming elections.

“You can’t scare anybody. We are in this country… You think we are here to joke. If you want us to fight, we will fight. I’m saying that if they want us to fight, we will fight.

“You think we are just going to sit down? Nobody is going to cheat us. We’re unperturbed about your threats to disqualify people; nobody can threaten us,” he said in Twi.

Hopeson Adorye, a former National Security operative, added, “the system cannot impose anybody on us. The grassroots are going to select the candidate for the party. We are not afraid of anybody,”.

Ten people would be contesting the NPP presidential primaries, which are slated for August and November 2023.

A super delegate conference would be held in August 2023 to reduce the number of contenders to five, while the main primaries would be held in November 2023 to choose the party’s presidential candidate for the 2024 elections.

The ten candidates include Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; a former Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen; Kwadwo Poku, an energy expert; Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Joe Ghartey; a former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto; a former General Secretary of the NPP, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong; MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong; a former MP for Offinso North, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku; and a former Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko.