The New Patriotic Party (NPP), even in opposition, is a house divided against itself where factionalism has taken over sense of strategic reasoning DAYBREAK has gathered.
Reports say some key persons who campaigned for Alan Kyerematen are not been tolerated at the Ridge campaign office of Nana Akufo Addo on suspicion that they have a 2016 agenda rather than a 2012 agenda.
So nasty is the development that former Information Minister, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, who supported the Alan Kyerematen flag-bearer bid, was recently booed, insulted and hooted at the front gate of the Nima residence of Nana Akufo Addo by some of his security details at the entrance.
Not only did they rain insults on Asamaoh Boateng but he was warned to leave the place and never return if he does not want to suffer a broken jaw. Some journalists who witnessed the nasty scene feared that the former Minister would be assaulted and they went to his rescue until an aide of Nana Addo intervened and whisked Asabee into the compound. The attackers were not even given a verbal rebuke.
Though the party’s Communications Team is at its wits end to cover up what has been described as a messy divided situation under the Chairmanship of Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, facts remain that the “Victory 2012 Campaign” team of Nana Akufo Addo, the party’s flag-bearer has refused to work with persons like Stephen Asamoah Boateng; former Minister for Information, Kwabena Agyepong; former Presidential Spokesperson; Yaw Boabeng Asamoah; Spokesperson for Alan’s Campaign, Nana Ohene Ntow; former General Secretary, Stephen Ntim; former National deputy Chairman and a host of other party big wigs who supported the Alan Kyerematen flag-bearer bid.
An insider from the Ridge office of Nana Akufo Addo told DAYBREAK that though the above mentioned names have not been asked to stay away from the Victory 2012 Campaign office, some of them were left idle and were not allowed into certain discussions the few times they visited the office.
“No one would sack them from the office but they themselves have realized that their presence is not needed here and they have no place here after all how many votes did their Alan Cash get at the primaries.
“The campaign is such that unless you are given a role to play you would be idle doing your own thing so even if they come and walk about here and no one gives them any job to do, they would get tired and stop coming and that is exactly what has happened,” the source noted.
Though Nana Addo and Alan Kyerematen often pose for the cameras and portray warm flashy smiles for the media, DAYBREAK can report that all is not well among the followers of the two and the “party first mantra” they are chanting about is nothing but a cliché.
Nana Addo is reported to have expressed some feeble concerns over the development but reports say he is being too careful to step on toes and has thus decided to close an eye over the matter though he knows he cannot win power with a divided party where a faction has been rendered inactive and dormant.
Members of the Kitchen Cabinet at the Ridge Campaign office include MP for Okere Dan Botwe who reports say is readying himself to become Nana Addo’s National Campaign Manager, former MP for Asuogyaman; Kofi Osei Ameyaw, ex-Minister Yaw Osafo Marfo, Dr. Kofi Konadu Appraku, Hackman Owusu Agyeman and second Deputy Speaker of Parliament; Prof. Mike Oquaye who reports say is eyeing the Speaker of Parliament position should Nana Akufo Addo become president.
Pundits have opined that the NPP cannot return to power in 2012 if the party does not come together and galvanize the votes and efforts of all within its fold.
