NPP Youth Crisis Deepens

The clash between some grassroots members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and their leadership at the Atebubu South Constituency is not yet over, as those who are bent on stripping the acting chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Oppong Quainoo, of his position have still vowed to carry on with their action.

At 6:30 p.m. on September 3, this year, the acting chairman of the party received a verbal warning from his opponents, who threatened to mete out more punishment to him, Chronicle can reveal.

A reliable source close to Chronicle revealed that one Musa confronted the acting chairman and warned him that he would be attacked again as soon as soldiers providing security at Atebubu leave.

Speaking to Chronicle, the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr. Cassius Qsei Poku, called for more security men.

The number of soldiers currently stands at four, giving security to the party executive, as well as the DCE.

The acting chairman in a chat with this reporter confirmed the threat on his life, mentioning one Mr. Mumuni Ibrahim, NADMO co-coordinator in the Atebubu District.

Mr. Quainoo, narrating the incident, revealed that on the day of the clash, his wife was on her way to the chairman's residence when she was attacked and subjected to beatings.

The cause of the clash, as revealed by the acting chairman, was that the substantive chairman, Nana Owusu Gyimah, was suspended by the regional executive of the party, following similar disturbances that occurred during the nomination of the DCE, Mr. Opoku and other activities, which do not augur well for the party.

Mr. Quainoo continued that the suspended chairman one day returned from Accra to tell them that Alhaji Moctar Musah Bamba had given him a letter to continue his job as party chairman and with the re-organisation of the party.

He said when Nana Gyimah came he called a meeting to enable him, the acting chairman, to hand over the chairmanship to him.

"We did not attend such a meeting and this made him offended, hence the action of brutalities."

Mr. Quainoo added his voice to the call to deploy more soldiers to ensure total peace at Atebubu.

"The lives of the entire executive is in danger because they cannot carry on their duties as citizens and members of the NPP."

Mr. Quainoo called on the national and regional executive to expel Nana Gyimah from the party.

He told Chronicle that he had suffered a lot of brutalities from both NDC supporters and his own party, NPP.

A document in the possession of Chronicle reveals that Nana Gyimah at a meeting with Hon. Alhaji Moctar Bamba, Deputy Minister for Presidential Affairs in Accra, pleaded with the executive of the Atebubu South constituency to re-instate him until he, Hon. Bamba, meets the Brong Ahafo Regional minister to settle the trouble brewing in the constituency.

The letter dated August 20, 2002 and signed by the deputy minister, who is also the MP for Wenchi East, called for a peaceful settlement of the issue since the party is working towards a common goal.

One of the documents titled "General Meeting" was signed by one Mr. Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah requesting the party members to attend a meeting on August 25, this year at the District Assembly Hall of the Atebuhu District Assembly.

When the regional secretary of NPP, Mr. A. K. Kussi, was contacted, he confirmed that Nana Gyimah had been suspended and they never re-instated him as he alleged.

The NPP regional secretary also described Owusu-Ansah as an imposter, because he is not an executive member of the party.

He told Chronicle that the title "youth chairman" has not been defined in the party's constitution.

"The only title we have is Youth Organiser and it is in the person of Mr. Peter Owusu Doodo, who is admitted at the Mampong hospital following the brutalities."

When Nana Gyimah, the suspended chairman, was contacted, he confirmed the brutalities meted out on the executive, but however said he was not in Atebubu when the incident occurred.

Nana Gyimah told Chronicle that the candidate for the NPP, who lost to the NDC was tortured by the military, which according to him, is an embarrassment to the party.

The losing candidate, who is the NADMO co-ordinator, as he puts it, will lose respect if he contests any election because of the beating in the presence of the Atebubu people.

The suspended chairman revealed that he has not been on good terms with the DCE, Mr. Opoku, since he was nominated as DCE.