Mass dismissals hit Subin NPP

Delegates of the Subin constituency in the Ashanti region are seething with anger over what they described as unfair treatment after incumbent Member of Parliament, Mr Eugene Boakye Antwi suspended 47 and dismissed 62 delegates ahead of the NPP parliamentary primaries slated for next year.

The aggrieved delegates have alleged that the move is a deliberate attempt by Mr Boakye Antwi to disenfranchise those he believes would vote against him in the primaries.

However, Mr Boakye Antwi who doubles as a Deputy Minister of Works and Housing in an interview with Kumasi based Hello FM cited, among other things, absenteeism, violations of the duties of a member, actions that brings the name of the party in disrepute, creating a discord or factions in the party, as reasons for disciplinary actions against the affected delegates.

The delegates have vehemently denied Mr Boakye Antwi’s claim, accusing him of usurping the powers of the constituency executive after he unilaterally ordered their exit.

According to the affected members, the MP’s domineering and uncompromising posture, if not checked, could adversely affect the party’s electoral fortunes in 2020.

“He is always in the news for the wrong reasons. Since he was elected as an MP the constituency has seen no peace. Acrimony and persecutions have become the order of the day, as people who disagree with him are targeted by his paid agents.

“Mr Boakye Antwi, himself lives in Accra and comes only once in a while to his Kumasi residence at Esereso which is even in the Bosomtwi constituency to superintend over meetings.

“He, therefore, has no locus to accuse us of residing in areas other than within the constituency and sanction us. We love the party and have worked for the party for years. Hence using our residency and absenteeism as grounds to remove us from the party is unjust,” a source disclosed.

Another delegate who pleaded for strict anonymity added that he suspects Mr Boakye Antwi’s action is a calculated attempt to marginalize some delegates to play to his advantage in the upcoming primaries as all indications show that he has become unpopular among delegates due to his haughtiness.

It would be recalled that few months ago, some delegates were blocked from accessing MASLOC loans after the Deputy Minister of Works and Housing insisted they do not qualify for the facility because they have been suspended.