Akufo-Addo: I’m not behind plans to oust Afoko, Agyepong

The flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Akufo-Addo has denied sanctioning the nationwide regional executive committee meetings aimed at passing a vote of no confidence in Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong.

Three regions – Central, Eastern and Volta – have passed a vote of no confidence in the beleaguered national chairman and the general secretary following their reported involvement in the killing of the Upper East regional chairman of the party Adams Mahama.

The state-owned Daily Graphic reported on Monday that sources close to the party have hinted Nana Addo instigated the emergency regional congresses “aimed at rallying support for the ousting of the two National Executive members, according to some close sources of the Party, were allegedly being instigated by the Party’s flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo.”

The story quoted the National Chairman of the NPP Afoko as confirming that he was informed of the Regional Executive Committee meetings by the flagbearer, and that he, Mr. Afoko, was at a loss as to why the Regional Executive Committee meetings should be allowed to take place on the same day as the scheduled NEC meeting.

Nana Akufo-Addo said that is not the case.

“The import of this Daily Graphic report seeks to portray Nana Akufo-Addo as having sanctioned the Regional Executive Committee meetings, despite an earlier agreement with the National Chairman to hold a National Executive Committee meeting on the same day, Monday, May 25, 2015.

“This impression is totally wrong, flawed, and mischievous. As a general rule, Nana Akufo-Addo does not to like to engage in media commentary on internal NPP matters, but, having regard to the importance of the issues at stake and the central role of the Daily Graphic in the Ghanaian media, it is necessary for him to set the records straight,” a statement from Nana Addo’s press secretary Eugene Arhin said.

It added: “The facts of the matter are as follows:

“On his arrival from Europe on May 22, he met in the evening with the Chairman and General Secretary of the party to review the recent, unfortunate, tragic developments that had taken place in the party. They agreed that a joint meeting of the National Executive Committee and the National Council of Elders be convened for Monday, May 25, to deliberate on them.

“The next day, May 23, at the funeral in Bolgatanga of the late Adams Mahama, he took the opportunity to inform the Regional Chairmen and others about the impending National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for Monday, May 25th. He was then informed by the Regional Chairmen that they had already scheduled a meeting of their respective Regional “Executive Committees for the same Monday, May 25th, and that they therefore were requesting that on his return to Accra, he should inform the National Chairman of this and seek an adjournment of the National Executive Committee meeting.

“On his return to Accra, on Saturday, May 23, he informed the National Chairman of this development, and urged the National Chairman and the General Secretary to make contact with the Regional Chairmen to sort the matter out so that the National Executive Committee meeting could take place as scheduled.

“To his surprise, on Sunday May 24, he received notice that the National Chairman had cancelled the National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for Monday, May 25, without any prior reference to him.

“These are the facts of the matter and it is thus clear that Nana Akufo-Addo bore no responsibility whatsoever for the convening of the Regional Executive Committee meetings. Nana Akufo-Addo wants the membership of the NPP to understand that he continues to work for understanding and unity in the party.”