The appointment of new executives in the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has sent shock waves and resentment through a section in the party as the appointment laid waste to an earlier appointment made by the General Secretary and National Chairman of the party, Kwabena Agyei Agyapong and Paul Afoko respectively.
The appointments have been described by critics as heavily tilted towards people sympathetic to the NPP flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo and is said to spite all his opponents, particularly those who challenged him in his flagbearership bid.
The Republic newspaper can confirm that individuals who opposed Akufo Addo’s flagbearership bid are extremely afraid that the hierarchy of the party has begun to systematically sideline them from important roles in the party.
A former Deputy Communications Director of the main opposition New Patriotic Party, Michael Ampong, has described the new appointments as “emotional” and an attempt to “punish” some people in the party.
“The NPP appears to be emotional in the appointments in my view. It appears there are efforts to punish some of us because of some perceived association with some personalities in the past”.
The earlier appointments were dropped without prior information, Pius Enam Hadzide, who was initially appointed as a Deputy Communications Director of the NPP was dropped without recourse to him, sparking consolation and mockery from his friends and his opponents.
“…to those you called and sent messages either to console or mock me, I say thank you. I pray for God's favour over you all,” a tearful Hadzide wrote on his Facebook wall.
“I received news late last night [Friday November 14, 2014] confirming the appointment of some fine gentlemen and women into various positions in the party including deputy communication directors by the National Executive Committee and National Council. Prior to that, the leadership of the party had appointed some persons including me to act pending NEC approval,” Mr. Hadzide stated.
Last Thursday, about 20 new appointments were made; including Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia the running-mate of the NPP’s flagbearer. Dr Bawumia has been appointed to head the Electoral Reform Committee of the party.
Also, Perry Okudzeto has made a comeback in the new appointments as a Deputy Communications Director. Mr. Okudzeto was the former Communications Director of the NPP who was sacked by Kwabena Agyapong for his alleged loyalty to Akufo Addo.
The communications department of the main opposition party is headed by Nana Akomea-the Communications Director of the 2012 campaign.
Virtually all the individuals appointed to the communications department for instance, are people who have openly shown strong loyalty to the NPP flagbearer.
Unconfirmed reports indicates that having won the flagbearership slot of the main opposition party, Akufo Addo would immediately activate his campaign machinery comprising mostly his family members and friends such as Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko and other key strategists like behind his twice-failed Presidential campaigns.
Meanwhile, a season of terror has begun, where party supporters who have openly opposed the reigning flagbearer are subjected to physical assault.
Reports reaching the Republic newspaper indicate that in the early hours of Saturday 15 November, 2014, during an NPP UK Fundraising dinner in London, in the presence of Dr. Bawumia, Lawyer Dede Djaba (the senior sister of Otiko Afisa Djaba, the Women Organiser of the party) was physically assaulted by supporters of Akufo-Addo.
Apparently, she Ms Djaba was attacked for recently confirming on various media outlets that Akufo Addo had once been arrested in the UK for possessing Marijuana
During the attack, Ms Djaba was with her aunt, Mrs Beatrice Addo her husband, Mr Gyasi-Addo, staunch NPP members from Koforidua and a guest, Ms Christiana Nartey from Ningo. They were attacked by one Joyce Dei, aspirant Member of Parliament for Bosome Freho and about 10 pro-Nana Addo women.
The attack is said to have taken place outside the Prince and Princess Banqueting Suite in Edmonton, London after the fundraising dinner dance with Dr Bawumia.
Clad in their traditional costumes, Ms. Djaba and her guests were on the verge of attending the fundraising event when the were confronted at the entrance to the event. She was allegedly asked to leave because it was a "Nana Addo event."
She politely informed them that she had every right to be there as she had purchased tickets at £40 per head for the event, but the assailants would not budge. Madam Joyce Dei is said to have told Ms. Djaba," You must be ashamed of yourself for attending this event.”
The confrontation grew more physical with more angry Akufo Addo supporters advancing towards Ms. Djaba, the Republic newspaper learnt.
The embattled Ms. Djaba is said to have escaped by the breath of a hair after she and her guest jumped into their vehicle and sped off.
