Accra: Former Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Joe Ghartey, has been named Chairman of the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) National Appeals Committee for the party's upcoming National Executive Elections. His appointment places him at the head of the body responsible for handling petitions from aspirants or party members who may challenge decisions taken by the NPP's National Vetting Committee ahead of the October 3, 2026, national executive elections.
According to Ghana Web, the composition of the Appeals Committee is part of an updated electoral framework issued by the NPP National Elections Committee on August 11, 2026. The guidelines were issued pursuant to Article 10(2) of the party's constitution and other relevant provisions governing the election of national executives.
Joe Ghartey will lead a nine-member appeals body, supported by an eight-member team including Rev S.K. Boafo, Anthony Namoo, former Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources George Mireku Duker, Dr Akbar Yussif Rohullah Khomeni, Gifty Ohene Konadu, Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh, and Laurette Korkor Asante. Augustine Odei will serve as Secretary to the committee. The committee has been specifically mandated to receive and determine petitions from party members and aspirants aggrieved by decisions of the National Vetting Committee.
Under the electoral regulations, an aggrieved party member or aspirant for a national office may submit a written petition to the Appeals Committee after a decision by the Vetting Committee. The Appeals Committee is required to make a determination on such a petition within 48 hours, introducing a relatively short window for resolving disputes before the election process advances to subsequent stages. The regulations provide an additional avenue for candidates who remain dissatisfied after the Appeals Committee has reached its decision. Such petitioners may lodge a further appeal with the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NPP, whose decision will be final and binding.
The Appeals Committee is expected to play a crucial role in determining which aspirants eventually make it onto the ballot for the national executive positions. It will operate after the completion of the vetting exercise, which is handled by a separate National Vetting Committee chaired by Cecilia Abena Dapaah. The Vetting Committee is responsible for scrutinising all aspirants and may recommend disqualification of any candidate who does not satisfy the party's eligibility requirements, such as active membership, good character, and payment of dues.
As the NPP prepares for its National Executive Elections on October 3, 2026, the electoral timetable has been set. Nominations will open on August 17 and close on August 22, with the filing of nominations scheduled for August 23 to 27. Vetting will take place from August 31 to September 3, with results expected to be published on September 5. The appeals window is scheduled for September 6 and 7, and the party's NEC/NC is expected to meet on September 10. The Notice of Poll is scheduled for September 14.
The elections will cover positions such as National Chairperson, Vice Chairpersons, General Secretary, and others. The Electoral Commission of Ghana is expected to conduct the elections under the supervision of the party's National Elections Committee, in line with the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574). The National Elections Committee is chaired by Frederick Opare-Ansah, with Abena Osei Asare as Vice Chairperson, among other members.