Member of Parliament for Walewale, Tiah Abdul Kabiru, says the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will have to take legal action against the newly formed United Party (UP) over its name.
According to the NPP MP, the name United Party infringes on the NPP’s historical heritage.
Speaking on JoyNews on October 17, he explained that the original United Party was formed on October 13, 1957, but was later dissolved after Ghana became a one-party state.
“But the history of the now New Patriotic Party, which was formed somewhere in July 1992, was actually taking its root from the United Party led by K. A. Busia,” he said.
Hon. Kabiru argued that the newly launched United Party, led by Alan Kyerematen after rebranding his Movement for Change, is unlawfully appropriating the NPP’s historical identity.
“So one cannot understand why, in October 2025, Mr. Alan Kyerematen is forming a political party and using the name of a political party which the NPP transitions from,” he said.
“We are basically robbing the New Patriotic Party of its heritage if we allow the name to stand.”
He cited Section 10 of the Political Parties Act, which prohibits the registration of a name that could cause confusion among the public.
Mr. Walewale added that the matter could also take a civil route.
“Lawyers will probably guide and advise that this is a typical case of passing off (which is) an act intending to take the name, the business, and customers of a particular company, if we consider political parties in the light of corporate entities,” he noted.
“I believe that this particular name is in breach of Section 10 of the Political Parties Act. I believe that it amounts to passing off, and there are laws in the trademark infringement in the country that are supposed to help us resolve the matter.”
He also questioned the Electoral Commission (EC) for the United Party a provisional certificate to operate.
“I wonder why the Electoral Commission went ahead to still give them the provisional certificate to operate,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that a provisional certificate is not binding or final.
He maintained that he is concerned about the his total heritage of the NPP, insisting his issue is not personal.
“It is the historical preservation of the NPP that is at stake here. It’s not about the faces behind the party, I have no issue,” he stressed.
