New Patriotic Party member challenges Michael Osei Boateng’s eligibility

Masud Abdella, a member of Ghana’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) from the Tema East Constituency, has petitioned the party’s Elections Committee to disqualify Michael Osei Boateng, known as ‘POPE’, from the National Youth Organiser race.

The petition, dated August 31, 2026, alleges that Boateng is ineligible because he has already reached the age of 40. According to Article 15(4) of the NPP Constitution, a youth is defined as a member who has not yet attained the age of 40. Abdella claims that documents, including Boateng’s Ghana Card, passport, and SSNIT records, indicate a birth date of October 8, 1984, making him ineligible at the time of his nomination on August 28.

Abdella is requesting that the Elections Committee halt the processing of the nomination and independently verify the identification documents with relevant institutions. He noted that a previous proposal to lower the youth age limit from 40 to 35 was rejected by delegates in July 2025, meaning the current 40-year threshold remains in effect.