Posted: The Chronicle |Friday, January 22, 2010
By Charles Takyi - Boadu
A meeting between the 2008 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and 15 out of the 39 constituency chairmen in the Ashanti Region, has resulted in tension among the executives of the party.
The meeting, which was held at the Ahodwo residence of one of Nana Addo’s chief campaign strategists, Dr. Kwame Amoako Tuffuor, over the weekend, has angered the remaining 24 constituency chairmen who were not invited to the programme, since they were perceived to be supporters of Alan Kyerematen.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Yaw Amankwaa, who confirmed the tension in an interview with this reporter, alleged that at the said programme, Nana Addo mentioned the names of certain individuals as his preferred choice of candidates for specific positions in the party.
Nana Addo, reportedly, told the chairmen that he supports F. F. Anto for the position of Ashanti Regional Chairman, and Jake Obetsebi Lamptey as National Chairman, instead of former National Vice Chairman, Stephen Ntim.
The Regional Chairman could therefore not fathom why Nana Addo took such an initiative by inviting only 15 out of the 39 constituency chairmen in the region for the said meeting, since it breeds disunity in the party.
To him, somebody who is seeking re-election to lead the party should not have indulged in such as an exercise.
“As a man who is seeking to become the president of Ghana, he should be seen as unifier, so if in his own party, we have 39 constituency chairmen, including all the party executives, and he chooses 15 as those he can deal with, and also backs candidates who are contesting for both regional and national chairmen, and openly stating that he cannot work with Ntim, but Jake, then he has drawn the battle lines,” he said, adding, “even if you are elected as the flagbearer, what are you going to tell the remaining 24 of the 39, since you have already chosen 15?”
He accused Nana Addo of dividing the party, stressing: “this has become a major source of worry and pain for members of the party in the region, especially the executives. I think some of us should sit down with him and advise him so that he would either rescind his decision, or render an apology to the other party members he says he will not be able to work with.”
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer for Nana Addo, Herbert Krampa, confirmed that Nana Addo was in Kumasi over the weekend.
Mr. Krampa also admitted Nana held a series of meetings whilst in Kumasi, some of which were held behind closed doors with some individuals and group of persons, but could not tell whether he indeed met the 15 constituency chairmen.
He however denied Nana Addo asking the constituency chairmen to vote for his preferred choice of candidates in the impending regional and national elections, since according to him, Nana Addo would not do any such thing, let alone give them monies to influence their decision in the impending elections.
Meanwhile, firebrand NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for the Assin-North constituency, and known supporter of Nana Addo, Kennedy Agyepong, has criticised a list of names making rounds in the party, suggesting certain names and individuals as preferred candidates of the presidential aspirants.
He could not fathom the extent to which factionalism was gaining roots in the party. Speaking on Oman FM’s ‘National Agenda’ morning show on Tuesday, the MP, whose no-nonsense attitude has earned him the nickname ‘Akompreko,’ asked delegates in the impending national congress of the NPP, to vote for competent people, regardless of their supposed camps.
He particularly did not understand why a person like Stephen Amoah, who he described as hard-working, loyal and competent, should not be voted for to become national youth organiser of the party.
When most party people were scared to come out during the 2008 presidential run off, he noted that this gentleman was visiting about nine radio stations a week, all in defence of the party.
His comments are said to have sparked a debate in the Nana Addo camp, since some people feel he is breaking ranks.
Mr. Agyepong, however, repeated his comments on Citi FM’s ‘Eye-witness’ programme, hosted by Shamimah Muslim, the same day, saying that the supposed Nana Addo, Alan factions were tearing the party apart, and could possibly affect the chances of the NPP in the 2012 general