It is with a heavy heart that I write this piece to register my displeasure and dissatisfaction as regards the unfortunate happenings in my party, the New Patriotic Party and the role of our Flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo in a forward looking party.
The shameful coup d’état style through which the constitutionally elected National Chairman, Paul Awentami Afoko was suspended has generated very avoidable exposes and ridicules yet most party leaders are either pretending not to know the implications of the current happenings on our electoral fortunes or that most of the party faithful are living in ignorance as regards the REAL reasons for the illegal suspension of Paul Afoko. For instance, how many party people are aware that the proceeds of the monthly text based dues of the party collected for the past four years is yet to be accounted for? Are they aware that, that was the reason for the removal of the then Director for Finance and administration, Opare Hammond? Why are these shameless and dishonest people not telling the party faithful that about one hundred and twenty party vehicles cannot be accounted for? What was the interest of the invincible forces in refusing to take instructions from the National chairman and the General Secretary when they assumed office and who were the instructors of the invincible forces?
The quest of the National Chairman and the General Secretary to cure the evils and mischief in the party is the real rationale behind the calling for the heads of the duo. I challenge anyone to come out with contrary evidence in this regard.
What has been the leadership attitude of our dear flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo in all these? Nana Addo is consciously aware of all the rot going on in the party. Infact, the perpetuators are his hard core loyalist. It is my opinion that this cabal of shameless loyalist of Nana Addo has constantly ensured that the National Chairman and the General Secretary have no grounds to work in the interest of the party all with the view to covering up the financial malfeasance they have perpetuated. It is becoming almost impossible to reject the notion that the handlers of Nana Addo who are also the perpetuators of financial malfeasance and unruliness in the party are the real self-styled power brokers of Nana Addo and the party. Is it the case that Nana Addo cannot bite the bullet by allowing his boys to be exposed and punished because he is the commissioner of all the rot from his loyalist? Is it that Nana Addo’s bold leadership is suffering in the hands of his mischievous power brokers? The question that keeps begging for answers is, are these people interested in power as all others or they are interested in squandering campaign funds of the party? All campaign funds for instance should be structured as National, Regional and Constituency. Let all resources go straight from the Headquarters to Constituencies instead of the current situation of sending same through regional to Constituency.
This would reduce if not stop the rate of malfeasance and make transparency and accountability effective in the party.
Nana Addo must lead the way in this regard. It kills my spirit to observe the unfortunate means by which NEC is seeking to reactivate the culture of silence in the party. How can NEC imagine that everyone will keep quiet on the illegal suspension of the National Chairman? They have resorted to intimidating and threatening opposing views with suspension. How come that the party hailed groups that demonstrated at the National headquarters of the party calling for the stepping aside of the same National Chairman and the General Secretary yet others are being suspended for demonstrating at the same place against the illegal suspension of the National Chairman? This is a very cheap and untraditional way of selling pettiness and biasness. The hypocrisy of only enforcing selective portions of the party’s constitution will lead us to a dangerous end and may deny Nana Addo his ambition of leading Ghana if care is not exercised. How can the party punish party officers for showing support for the embattled National Chairman who is an NPP man while pretending not to be in known of the minority leader, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu and his deputy, Hon. Dominic Nitiwul were in Nadowli/Kaleo constituency damaging the clear chances of our parliamentary candidate there, Dr. Boye Bandie by campaigning for an NDC Parliamentary Aspirant, Ransford Sumani Bagbin? Declaring support for a candidate of a different political party is a violation of Article 3 H (1) of the party constitution yet party arrows are rather turned towards some party officers because they are against an illegality in the party. Why is Nana Addo not making any statement about Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu and Hon. Dominic Nitiwul’s attitude against the party’s constitution? Is it because the duo is his close confidants? I cannot imagine that Nana Addo is waiting to exhibit the strategic and just leadership the party requires now only when he is president of Ghana in 2017.
I am using this medium to call on our Flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo to show leadership by first of all ensuring the reinstatement of Paul Afoko as National Chairman before asking others to stop the hostilities. On the other hand, he should ensure that a thorough audit is conducted into all the financial malfeasance in the party and the culprits brought to book. What happened to the investigation of the illegal creation and operation of the party account at Ecobank involving the beneficiary of the coup d’état, Freddy Blay and Abankwa Yeboah? The same party structures should be used to punish Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu and Hon. Dominic Nitiwul for declaring support for a candidate (Hon. S.K Bagbin) of a different party (NDC). I believe that will send a signal to all Ghanaians that an Akufo Addo led government come 2017 will give a just and fair leadership to everyone. Nana Addo is a good man; he will be a very powerful president but he must not wait to show leadership only when he is in government.
Long live the New Patriotic Party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Long live Patriotism!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Long live Ghana!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Danny Opoku Antwi
NPP Activist, USA
001614593945
