Until his press conference, I never knew the NPP had a leader who could utter a word to calm the nerves of recalcitrant supporters. The question then is; what was he waiting for? Or, did he expect all the supporters to be killed before he stepped in? Until somebody proves me wrong that the flag-bearer was not behind the violence in the NPP, it still beats my imagination as to why he refused to act when machetes and cutlasses were taken to party headquarters to disrupt a press conference by the party Chairman some few months ago.
I, in particular, cannot fathom why the leader of our great party gave his blessings to an emergency meeting organised by all Regional Chairmen to oust Afoko and Kwabena; neither do I understand his silence on the needless communique issued by the Minority NPP Members of Parliament and Council of Elders. How could elected officers like Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong be removed from offices through force? Is that is how a democratic party like the NPP resolves her internal crisis?
If the NPP has a leader who could accept the Supreme Court verdict within a twinkle of an eye and stop his supporters from engaging in violence; if the party has the most influential politician in Ghana today, then flag-bearer's silence on the crisis left much to be desired.
Actually, I am happy that Baah Acheamfuor and I, who led the crusade to support Afoko and Kwabena, and to demand the resignation of the Flagbearer, if he was not ready to intervene, have been vindicated in the long-run. The message to I have for our supporters is simple; they must understand that, any action to intimidate an NPP member is tantamount to a potential loss of vote for the presidential candidate and NPP in 2016. Election, as known to us all, is about numbers and we cannot frustrate our own members and spend huge sums of money on campaigns to entice non-NPP members.
From all indications, the very people who don't want the Flagbearer to succeed are not those who opposed his candidature during the presidential primary, or constantly criticize him, but rather, those who surround and shower him with false hopes and bad pieces of advice. "S3 kukurukukru no gyae a, keka no nso b3gyae".
Though, it was a bit late for the flag-bearer's intervention, the adage says; "Better late than never". I take the opportunity to commend him, and to urge him to move beyond rhetorics in ensuring party internal cohesion. The Flagbearer must understand that even God who created the universe and provides us with food, air, etc is not liked by everybody. In this sense, the Flagbearer must not expect to be liked and admired by every NPP member. The fact that we are in the same political party does not mean we are brothers or we should think alike.
God bless Ghana! God bless the NPP!! God bless Kufuor!!!
Katakyie Kwame Opoku Agyemang, Asante Bekwai-Asakyiri
(katakyienpp@yahoo.co.uk)
0202471070 // 0547851100 // 0264931361
