Ashanti NPP is Angry

REPORTS REACHING The Chronicle in Kumasi indicate that footsoldiers of the New Patriotic party (NPP) in the Amansie East district are not happy about an emerging situation by which all constituency party chairmen are benefiting from various packages from the party at the expense of the foot soldiers who toiled to bring the party to its present position.

Reliable party insiders which confirmed the story say most of the constituency chairmen are riding in luxury cars which, are said to have been auctioned to them at ridiculously low prices between ¢7 million and ¢15 million.

According to the source the situation is not pertaining to Ashanti region alone and that this has been a source of worry to party executives across the country since secretaries, organizers and foot soldiers alike contribute to the running of the party at the constituency level.

Messrs. C. O. Attah, senior, Amoah Gyaame and Adu Boahen, Chairmen of the Bekwai, Amansie Central and Bosome-Freho constituencies respectively have been mentioned particularly for enjoying this package.

"While C.O. Attah is now riding in a Benz car with registration No. AS 6185 Y, his Jacobu colleague is cruising an Opel Kadet No. AS 6796 Y." The Chronicle heard.

The paper was informed that other beneficiaries included Nana Kofi Owusu, constituency chairman of Atwima Nwabiagya constituency who landed a Landcruiser.

But chairman Atta has denied the claim by his accusers that he is a beneficiary of the package. According to him he acquired the vehicle at almost ¢40 million from his own resources (proceeds from his cocoa farm and loan from the National Investment Bank (NIB).

Mr.Sam Cudjoe, the regional party secretary has explained that the offer is no special concession to constituency chairmen. According to him the offer was open to public and that he made an attempt to get one of the auctioned cars but was not successful.

In another vein, reports indicate that Mr. Alan Kyerematen, the former Minister of Trade and Industry, Private Sector Development and PSI has donated vehicles to a number of constituencies in the Ashanti region to boost his chances of winning the presidential slot at the party's national delegates conference in December this year.

Fomena and Bekwai constituencies have already taken delivery of their vehicles and expected to be helping with party activities in their respective constituencies.

At Bekwai, Mr. Osei Kwadwo alias Joe Santa, the constituency organizer is said to be holding onto the KIA vehicle No. AS 1943 Y donated under the package for his personal use to the annoyance of party men.

In a related development, polling station executives of the Amansie East NPP constituency have expressed concern over the use of lies and deceit to canvass for votes for some presidential aspirants.

The aggrieved party men claimed that before the constituency Congress last April, the constituency executives promised that a total of ¢3.3 billion from the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) would be distributed to the 132 executives.

As a result they voted against Mr. Adu-Gyamfi who vied for the chairmanship and voted Mr. Atta Kwasi Senior as chairman whose team was backed by the then deputy Minister of Local Government, Mr. Kofi Adusei Poku.

Three months on, the chickens are going to roast as the said promise cannot be fulfilled. The polling station chairmen are cursing the constituency executives and financiers of the campaign following the realization that the MCA issue was bait for their votes.

This comes from the disclosure that Amansie East district is not one of the 23 districts to benefit from the $547 million Millennium Challenge Programme.

The situation seems to have contributed to the widening of cracks in the Amansie East NPP as mistrust and suspicion among party men is becoming the lot of the two factions.

Meanwhile, Mr. Atta Adusei, constituency first vice chairman has denied the promise of monies from the MCA to polling station executives as being claimed.

He revealed, however, that he is in charge of the allocation of Medium and Small Loan Centre (MASLOC) for which funds are yet to be released for allocation to prospective beneficiaries.

According to Atta Adusei, the facility, when ready, would be advanced to qualified farmers and interested individual.