Narrowed space, intolerance – Sammy Crabbe says NPP is driving talented members away

Sammy Crabbe, the National Chairman aspirant for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has expressed concern over a perceived decline in openness and intellectual engagement within the party. In an interview on Channel One TV on Tuesday, September 22, Mr Crabbe noted that the shrinking space for debate and differing views has led some talented members to join the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Mr Crabbe recalled that the NPP previously allowed members greater freedom to engage, think independently, and challenge ideas. "Within the NPP there was kind of freedom. There was a latitude. You engage, and then you think, and, you know, you try to make your way through it. Yes, it is less so now, unfortunately," he stated.

Additionally, Mr Crabbe attributed the decline in participation among some members to changes in how the party's constitution was handled. "I think that the culture was radically changed, you know, the way we even attacked our constitution. It in itself made good people move away, be scared to really engage and drive it," he added.

Despite acknowledging the presence of knowledgeable individuals within the NPP, Mr Crabbe expressed difficulty in organizing and effectively channeling that expertise. "They are good people; I can see knowledge. I can feel it. When you talk to people, they have a lot of knowledge, but how do you organise this knowledge? How do you put it out objectively?" he questioned.

The former NPP official further blamed growing intolerance for the loss of some members to the NDC. "So we created a lot of space, and people could challenge and argue. And I think that space has been narrowed. And there’s a lot of intolerance," he emphasized. Mr Crabbe highlighted that some former NPP members who joined the NDC have since risen to prominence within the opposition party. "So people move from our party, and they move on to the NDC. And then they are the star performers," he concluded.