The hypocrisy in the NPP Must Stop now!

Looking at the hooliganism that has engulfed the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in recent times, it is quite obvious that Nana Akufo-Addo intends to repeat the 1979 bitter history of the UP Tradition. For those who might not know, Nana Akufo-Addo's direct uncle, Mr. William Ofori-Atta (aka Paa Willie) resigned from the Popular Front Party (PFP) to form the United National Convention (UNC) after the latter had been beaten at the PFP primaries by Mr. Victor Owusu. Our own Nana Akufo-Addo was the deputy General Secretary of UNC at the time. During the 1979 election run-off, Mr. William Ofori-Atta and Nana Addo urged all UNC members to vote for Dr. Hilla Liman of the People's National Party (PNP).

As we all know, the PNP was an offspring of Kwame Nkrumah's Convention People's Party (CPP). Eventually, Dr. Hilla Liman beat Victor Owusu to become the president of the 3rd Republic. Mr. William Ofori-Atta was subsequently appointed the Chairman of Council of State by Prez Limann and Nana Akufo-Addo instantly became his uncle's personal secretary. When Flt. Lt. Rawlings realised that Paa Willie was dictating to Prez. Limann, he staged the 31st December, 1981 coup d'état.

Therefore, the utterances and primitive actions of Akufo-Addo's supporters in recent times gives credence to the fact Akufo-Addo is hellbent on repeating his uncle's history in 1979. For some of us, it is no news because, Akufo-Addo's great grandfather, Dr. J.B. Danquah, in spite of his lead role in the UP Tradition, could not win the presidency in 1960; his father, Mr. Edward Akufo-Addo could not protect the presidency as a ceremonial head in 1972; his uncle, Paa Willie, divided the front of PFP; his fellow Akyem, Prof. Adu Boahen, kept us in opposition in 1992, and Nana Addo himself set the first record of taking our beloved party from government into opposition in 2008. Nana Addo did his best to keep us in another 4-year opposition in 2012, with 47.74% and one and a half regions.

Whilst many party faithfuls have kept mute over such sickening behaviour of Akufo-Addo's Boys, one wonders why these same people are questioning GAKE's resolve to put things right in the party. They have turned around to accuse GAKE of division, indiscipline, and disloyalty to the cause of the NPP whilst glossing over the following;

• When pro-Nana groups began to say; "No Nana, No Vote", didn't people realise that Nana Addo's supporter were destroying the party built by our forebears?

• When a whole party General Secretary remarked; "We would bring Nana Addo back for Election 2016, if even in a wheelchair", did others think that Sir John was dividing the front of the NPP?

• When Mustapha Hamid, the Spokesperson for Akufo-Addo, told Alan Kyerematen to stand as an independent candidate in 2016, didn't they see that the statement was in a bad state?

• When Nana Addo came from London to declare his intention to contest the presidential primaries just two weeks prior to the NPP's National Congress in Tamale, how many people questioned the rationale behind that declaration?

• When Nana Addo sent a list of preferred candidates - Fred Oware , Sir John, Tina Mensah etc to the delegates in Tamale as those that he could work with, did anybody remember a word like "division"?

• When Nana Addo urged NPP delegates to vote against Mr. Paul Afoko, Mr. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, and Otiko Djaba, did people tell him it was a wrong move?

• When some Youth and Women Organisers, Regional and Constituency Chairman began to endorse Nana Addo, how did party members perceive their action?

• When the PC Appiah Oforis, Okoampa Ahoofes, Hopeson Adoryes, Kofi Dwumahs etc used abusive words on Alan on radio and print media, did anybody see that it was an attempt to give ammunitions to the NDC for Election 2016?

• When Nana Addo's supporters denigrated former president Kufuor and Alan for not helping Akufo-Addo's campaigns, who asked those people to stop?

• When Hopeson Adorye, one of Akufo-Addo's Aides organised some Youth Groups to stop former president Kufuor from attending John Mahama's inaugural ceremony, who condemned such act?

• When almost all NPP Communicators speak for Nana Addo instead of the party, how many people have raised issues on that?

• When Members of Parliament began to openly endorse Nana Addo as the next flag-bearer, none of those sensible people speaking against Katakyie and GAKE saw anything wrong.

• When Alan Kyerematen stepped down in 2007 for Nana Addo to contest Election 2008, nobody saw it as a sacrifice.

• When various groups - FONAA, CONAA, NAFOP, CFC, Nana Ladies etc were formed to support Nana Addo's candidature, the same people forgot about division in their political dictionaries.

• When Alan and his supporters were being beaten, insulted, and sidelined in 2008 and 2012 campaigns, nobody thought they were dividing the party.

• When party nomination forms were being issued to only pro-Nana Addo candidates to contest the Polling Station, and Constituency elections, there was nothing like division.

• When the Freddie Blays, Hajia Fati, and F.F. Antos continue to undermine the authority of the party's General Secretary and Chairman, they see it as a blessing but not division.

• When Hon. Atta Akyea, an MP for Abuakwa South constituency refer to people who do not support Akufo-Addo's candidature as possessing evil spirits and witchcraft, it is considered a good speech.

• When Akufo-Addo 'sends' thugs to disrupt a press conference organised by Party Chairman and General Secretary, nobody sees it as wrong.

• When Hon. Ken Ohene Agyapong states categorically that Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong have signed their death warrants, no press conference has been held by pro-Akufo-Addo's groups to condemn him.

• When the same Hon. Ken. Ohene Agyapong stated that he would campaign for NDC in 2020, if ..., nobody took him on.

• Again, when this same Hon. Ken. Ohene Agyapong revealed that, Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani, and Hon. Richard Anane have planned to poison Nana Addo, nobody has questioned the wisdom in such divisive and wicked allegation.

• When fake endorsements of Akufo-Addo continue to flood in from abroad, nobody has warned such groups that it could divide our front as members of one family.

However, let Katakyie form Get Alan Kyerematen Elected (GAKE) to promote Alan, and sell his vision to Ghanaians, then hell breaks loose.

You hear them say:

• Katakyie and GAKE are destroying the NPP.

• GAKE should stick to the issues.

• GAKE should tell us what Alan can do.

• GAKE should be disbanded.

• Alan is destroying the NPP.

• Will Katakyie campaign for Nana, if he becomes the flag-bearer?

• This Katakyie guy must be beaten, and sacked from the party.

• Katakyie is not a true party man; he must be an NDC mole.

My God!

Where is the democracy in my beloved party? Where is the honesty? Where is the discipline? Where is the party constitution?

Let's stop the hypocrisy. The NPP belongs to all of us, but not for only one person.

Katakyie Kwame Opoku Agyemang, Asante Bekwai-Asakyiri. Email: katakyienpp@yahoo.co.uk

Mobile: 0547851100 : 0264931361 : 0202471070

"Vision, coupled with persistency, results in true success"