A storm is brewing in the Asikuma Odoben Brakwa constituency of the Central Region, as a growing number of New Patriotic Party (NPP) members are raising serious concerns about the eligibility of the sitting Constituency Chairman, Ebenezer Appiah Apraku popularly known as Ebo Zaazigy to contest for the same position in the party’s upcoming internal elections.
The bone of contention? Mr. Apraku’s continued employment as a senior staff member at the GNPC Foundation, a position that, according to party faithful, places him in direct conflict with the governing laws of the state-owned petroleum corporation.
At the heart of the matter is PNDCL 64, the Provisional National Defence Council Law that established the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) in 1983. While the law is primarily known for governing the appointment of the GNPC Board – allowing all board members to be appointed by the President on the advice of the Energy Minister – party insiders point to a specific provision that restricts staff of the GNPC Foundation from engaging in partisan political activities.
According to sources within the constituency, the law stipulates that the Board of Directors of the GNPC Foundation shall restrict any staff member who engages in party politics. The concern is that Mr. Apraku, as a staff member of the Foundation, at the Procurement Department is actively violating this provision by not only participating in partisan politics but also seeking to lead the party at the constituency level.
The GNPC Foundation serves as the corporate social investment arm of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, dedicated to impacting lives through community and social intervention programs. Given its public service mandate and its connection to a state-owned enterprise, staff are expected to maintain a non-partisan posture.
However, Mr. Apraku has been anything but non-partisan. In November 2025, he publicly declared his support for former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the party’s flagbearer race, speaking at a campaign tour in the constituency.
He openly declared, “I am the Constituency Chairman in Asikuma Odoben Brakwa. I declare my support for Dr. Bawumia”.
While such declarations are expected from a party chairman, critics argue that Mr. Apraku cannot have it both ways occupying a role at the GNPC Foundation while actively engaging in partisan politics.
The controversy has struck a nerve among many NPP members in the constituency, who feel that Mr. Apraku is “defiling the law” with impunity. They argue that his continued candidacy undermines the integrity of the party and sets a dangerous precedent where state appointees can flout legal restrictions without consequence.
“How can someone who is employed by a state institution that is governed by PNDCL 64 turn around and actively campaign for political office?” one party elder lamented. “The law is clear. If he wants to be chairman, he must step down from his role at the GNPC Foundation. You cannot serve two masters.”
The situation is particularly ironic given that Mr. Apraku is already the sitting Constituency Chairman, a position he has used to rally support for the party. His bid to retain the chairmanship has now come under scrutiny, with many questioning whether he should be allowed to contest at all.
As the NPP prepares for its internal elections, the Asikuma Odoben Brakwa constituency finds itself at a crossroads. Will the party uphold the law and disqualify Mr. Apraku, or will it turn a blind eye to what many see as a clear violation of PNDCL 64?
Party members are now calling on the national leadership of the NPP and the Board of Directors of the GNPC Foundation to provide clarity on the matter. They insist that the law must be applied equally to all, regardless of one’s position or influence within the party.
As one concerned member put it: “We love the party, but we cannot compromise on the rule of law. If Ebenezer Appiah Apraku truly wants to lead us, he must first resign from his position at the GNPC Foundation. Until then, his candidacy remains illegitimate.”
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