Tensions have erupted within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Upper West Region as youth activists, led by Baba Waala, publicly criticized former Interior Minister and Member of Parliament for Nandom, Hon. Ambrose Dery, for demanding the return of a pickup vehicle he donated to the party’s youth and women’s wing. The vehicle, intended to support campaign activities, was reportedly reclaimed by Dery following the NPP’s loss in the 2024 parliamentary elections, prompting outrage among party members.
According to Baba Waala, a vocal NPP youth activist in the Upper West Region, the pickup was donated by Dery to bolster the party’s campaign efforts in the region. The vehicle was primarily used by the youth and women’s wing to mobilize support and coordinate activities during the election period. However, after the NPP suffered a sweeping defeat in the Upper West Region, losing all three constituencies it held, including Dery’s Nandom seat to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dery allegedly insisted on retrieving the vehicle.
“I just want to inform every other person here that, the Pick-Up that was donated to party by former interior minister, Hon Ambrose Dery has been returned to him because of his persistent insistence for it returned.
— YouDecide “ Baba Waala
The Nandom Constituency, one of the NPP’s strongholds in the region, saw Dery lose to NDC’s Richard Kuuire by a margin of 3,037 votes, with Kuuire securing 13,743 votes (55.2%) compared to Dery’s 10,706 votes (42.9%). The loss marked the end of Dery’s bid for a fourth term in Parliament and contributed to the NPP’s complete loss of parliamentary seats in the Upper West Region, with Sissala East and Lambussie also falling to the NDC.
The decision to reclaim the pickup has sparked widespread discontent among NPP members in the region, particularly among the youth, who view the move as selfish and detrimental to party unity. “This vehicle was meant to serve the party, not an individual. For him to take it back because we didn’t win is disheartening and shows a lack of commitment to the collective goal of the NPP,” said a member of the youth wing, who requested anonymity.
The controversy comes at a time when the NPP is grappling with its electoral defeat and internal divisions. Political analysts suggest that Dery’s actions could further weaken the party’s cohesion in the Upper West Region, where it already faces an uphill battle to regain lost ground.
As of now, Hon. Ambrose Dery has not publicly commented on the allegations.
The controversy surrounding the pickup adds to the challenges facing the NPP as it seeks to rebuild and strategize for future elections in the Upper West Region.
The incident has also reignited discussions about the responsibilities of political leaders toward their constituents and party members, with many calling for greater accountability and transparency in how campaign resources are managed.
By: Adil Fuseini/Home Radio
upperwestmedia.net 
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