Cecilia Dapaah to chair NPP National Executive elections vetting committee

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has appointed former Minister Cecilia Abena Dapaah as Chairperson of its National Vetting Committee for the party’s upcoming National Executive Elections.

The appointment forms part of an update issued by the NPP’s National Elections Committee on August 11, 2026, outlining arrangements for the elections.

According to the party, the nine-member Vetting Committee will be responsible for assessing all aspirants seeking to contest the National Executive Elections.

The committee includes former Education Minister Papa Owusu-Ankomah, former Northern Regional Minister Salifu Saeed, Ambassador (Dr.) Barffour Agyei-Bawuah, Elizabeth Ohene, Osei Prempeh, Joyce Opoku Boateng and Arnold Boateng, with Evans Nimako serving as Secretary.

Madam Dapaah’s appointment comes despite the controversy that followed investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in 2023 over large sums of money and other valuables associated with her and her husband.

The OSP arrested Madam Dapaah in July 2023 in connection with suspected corruption and corruption-related offences. It later reported that searches of properties associated with her led to the discovery of US$590,000 and GH¢2.73 million.

However, in January 2024, the OSP discontinued its investigation and referred the case to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), saying the matter was largely in the province of suspected money laundering and structuring.

The OSP also discontinued a procedural criminal charge against Madam Dapaah relating to the non-return of property and income declaration forms.

Under the NPP’s latest arrangements, the committee chaired by Madam Dapaah will be responsible for determining whether aspirants meet the requirements to contest the various national executive positions.

The party states that “The National Vetting Committee shall be responsible for the vetting of all aspirants.” It adds that the committee “shall recommend the disqualification of any aspirant where it determines that the aspirant does not satisfy the eligibility requirements for election as a National Officer.”

Vetting is scheduled to take place from August 31 to September 3, 2026, with the results expected to be published on September 5. Appeals will follow from September 6 to 7.

The NPP has scheduled its National Executive Elections for October 3, 2026, with the Electoral Commission expected to conduct the elections under the supervision of the party’s National Elections Committee.