The 'in-fighting' between members of the People's National Convention (PNC) political party, has taken a new twist, following the formation of a new political party, the People's National Party (PNP).

Both political parties have ideological linkages to Dr Hilla Limann, President of Ghana in the third Republic from 1979 to December 31, 1981. Dr Limann led the People's National Party (PNP) and was elected President in 1979 on the ticket of that party.

But a breakaway group from the People's National Convention (PNC), led by Janet Nabla, a former General Secretary of the PNC has formed a new political party named People's National Party (PNP) with the palm tree, originally used by the 1979 PNP as its symbol.

The symbol for the PNC is the coconut tree - '?y? kube' and that of the PNC is the palm tree - '?y? ab?'.

The Electoral Commission has since issued a provisional certificate to the PNP, and the party is waiting for its full certificate.

It is based on this that the members of the PNC have petitioned the EC, raising issues that the full certificate should not be issued to the PNP, since it will confuse their followers.

PNC's argument

According to the PNC, the use of the name, People's National Party (PNP) and its emblem same as that of the erstwhile PNP which traces its history down to the current People's National Convention (PNC) which has the same emblem, ideology, principles and traditions of the erstwhile (PNP) will deceive and confuse the electorates. 

The party filed the objection to the EC through its legal team on July 16, 2024.

The objection to the registration of the new party, according to the legal team of PNC, was in pursuant to section 8(5) and 10 of the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574). 

The lawyers of PNC are of the view that prior to the registration of PNC, the key proponents of PNC were executives and stakeholders of the then People's National Party (PNP) which was formed sometime in 1979 and "therefore our client firmly believed in the PNP's political ideology." 

Consequently, they argued, the formation of PNC stems from the credo of the PNP, inculcating principally the same executives, stakeholders, and proponents and effectively projecting the achievements of Dr Hilla Limann the then leader of the PNP.

'?y? kube' and '?y? ab?'

For PNC, the striking similarities between the two parties make it difficult for people to differentiate between the two parties, noting that their emblems too - palm nut tree, '?y? ab? and coconut tree, '?y? kube' had some semblance.

"This similarity is such that one is able to easily associate the PNC with the erstwhile PNP for the obvious nature in which the palm nut tree and the coconut tree appear. Whiles electorates shouted "?y? ab?" during campaign periods in the PNP era, the electorates shouted "?y? kube" whenever our client mounted the campaign platform to signify some form of continuity from the PNP to the PNC," they advanced their objection. 

For the lawyers of PNC, the name People's National Party (PNP) being the mother party which birthed the People's National Convention (PNC) is very synonymous with the PNC and in effect will confuse the electorates. 

They also noted that the use of the palm nut tree as an emblem for the newly formed party PNP will further confuse the electorates leaving them to believe that the PNC and PNP are one and the same. 

Similarly, PNC is of the concern that "Since the executives of the PNP are former executives of the PNC, together with the history between the erstwhile PNP and PNC earlier canvassed, it will leave no doubt in the minds of electorates that the new PNP and PNC are one and the same."

"The use of the name, People's National Party (PNP) and its emblem same as that of the erstwhile PNP which traces its history down to the current People's National Convention (PNC) which has the same emblem, ideology, principles and traditions of the erstwhile (PNP) will deceive and confuse the electorates," PNC's lawyers argued. 

Read the full objection by PNC

Objection to the registration of People's National Party (PNP) as a political party pursuant to section 8(5) and 10 of the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574)

1. We write as solicitors for and on behalf of People's National Convention (PNC), a political party of address C45/12 Abavana Junction Kotobabi, Accra in the Greater Accra Region of the Republic of Ghana (herreinafter called "Our Client")  and upon whose instructions we write to you this objection.

2. Our client's firm instructions to us are that it (our client) is a registered political party under the laws of the Republic of Ghana and has been so registered since the 27th day of July 1992 with over a million followers, sympathiziers and registered members if not more.

3. In furtherance of paragraph 2 above, our client has participated in all elections conducted in the Republic of Ghana since the commencement of the 4th Republican constitution and has performed creditably well in all elections effectively making our client one of the popular political parties in Ghana.

4. Prior to the registration of our client and its (our client's) participation in the 1992 election, the key proponents of our client were executives and stakeholders of the then People's National Party (PNP) which was formed sometime in 1979 and therefore our client firmly believed in the PNP'S political ideology. 

5. Consequently, our client's firm instructions to us are that the formation of PNC stems from the credo of the PNP, inculcating principally the same executives, stakeholders, and proponents and effectively projecting the achievements of Dr Hilla Limann the then leader of the PNP. 

6. By reason of paragraph 5 above, the publicity committee of the PNC prepared a document going into the 1992 elections to project the achievements of Dr. Hilla Limann and by extension the PNP which document clearly stated that our client draws its strength from the PNP.

7. By way of striking similarities, our client and the erstwhile PNP had the similar emblems with the PNPs been palm nut tree and that of the PNC been a coconut tree. 

8. This similarity is such that one is able to easily associate the PNC with the erstwhile PNP for the obvious nature in which the palm nut tree and the coconut tree appear. Whiles electorates shouted "3y3 ab3" during campaign periods in the PNP era, the electorates shouted "3y3 kube" whenever our client mounted the campaign platform to signify some form of continuity from the PNP to the PNC. 

9. Our client's firm instructions to us are that its former secretary Ms Janet Nabla and some executives of our client who broke away from the PNC some months ago with the intent of forming a new political party have been granted a provisional certificate to mobilise itself and form the PNP with its emblem being a palm nut tree which is same as the erstwhile PNP. 

10. By reason of paragraph 8 above, our client's instructions to us arc that the formation of a party called People's National Party 
(PNP) which has been granted a provisional certificate should not be granted the final certificate as a grant of same will be detrimental to our client's heritage, ideological inclination and traditions since the erstwhile PNP is the mother party, out of which our client was birthed. 

11. Our client therefore instructs us to raise an objection to the grant of a final certificate by your office (Electoral Commission) for the registration of a political party by name People's National Party (PNP) and the crux of our objection which is in accordance with sections 8(5) and 10 is as follows; 

a. The name People's National Party (PNP) being the mother party which birthed the People's National Convention (PNC) is very synonymous with the PNC and in effect will confuse the electorates. 

b. The use of the palm nut tree as an emblem for the newly formed party PNP will further confuse the electorates leaving them to believe that the PNC and PNP are one and the same. 

c. Since the executives of the PNP are former executives of the PNC, together with the history between the erstwhile PNP and PNC earlier canvassed, it will leave no doubt in the minds of electorates that the new PNP and PNC are one and the same. 

d. The use of the name, People's National Party (PNP) and its emblem same as that of the erstwhile PNP which traces its history down to the current People's National .Convention (PNC) which has the same emblem, ideology, principles and traditions of the erstwhile (PNP) will deceive and confuse the electorates.

12. Consequently, we object to the registration of a political party by the name People's National Party (PNP) and we state further that the PNP though having been issued a provisional certificate should not be issued with the final certificate to allow it (PNP) participate in the upcoming elections or any elections for that matter. 

13. We have annexed evidence of the name and emblem of the erstwhile People's National Party (PNP) in our instant letter for your perusal. 

14. In light of the foregoing and in order not to destroy the foundational root of our client, we request that this objection be addressed timeously to bring finality to this issue that has been bothering our client and its (our client's) teeming supporters and sympathisers alike. 
15. We hope that our client's present petition will receive a timeous and favourable response so as to preserve and ensure the protection of our client's history, tradition, political ideology and foundational root. 

Yours sincerely,