NPP Wrangling: Democracy without strategy is dangerous - Anthony Karbo

“People don’t feel the party is ready to capture power in 2016 and they are not wrong because some of the comments from some of the kingpins are worrying; it will not help the party…this party must be as practical as possible. The suspicion, the lack of trust within the party members is also worrying and there is the need for an immediate attention,” says Anthony Abeyifa Karbo.

The former National Youth Organiser of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) was commenting on recent happenings in his party.

The internal wrangling within the NPP seems to be escalating on daily basis. There seems to be no end to the issues as various people keep adding ‘fuel to the fire’

The latest blow to the party is a lawsuit.

Mr. David Hoezame, a former party Constituency Chairman in the Central Tongu constituency of the Volta Region has filed a writ challenging the status of the party’s National Council as presently constituted. He is praying the court to compel the NPP to follow what he calls the procedure outlined by the party's constitution and re-compose its National Council.

Speaking to the issue Karbo said “I don’t believe he (David) has even appeared before the party’s legal and constitutional committee and my checks can confirm that. It is important for people to recognise that there are laws and regulations in the party and so I will request that he withdraws the case and forwards it to the elders in the party...

You can have your disagreement with former President Kufuor but the only successful leader of our tradition today is J.A. Kufuor. His direction on the way to go for this party cannot be swept under the carpet”.

Speaking in general to the confusion in the party on Peace FM’s morning show ‘Kokrokoo’ with host Kwami Sefa Kayi, Karbo indicated that the leadership and the Council of Elders of the party must act fast in solving the various issues otherwise, ‘power will elude the NPP again in 2016’.

Another issue that is creating confusion in the party is who to become the next flagbearer. So far, seven aspirants have already picked their nomination forms.

According to Karbo, majority of the followers of some of the aspirants are ‘in just for the money and not to campaign for them’. He expressed surprise that it is some of these aspirants who are fuelling confusion in the party.

Even though he said ‘we are not taking lessons from the NDC’, Karbo recalled how the ruling National Democratic Congress quickly accepted John Dramani Mahama as the next presidential candidate in 2012 after the death of President John Evans Atta Mills and added that had it been the NPP ‘even ministers will resign to contest for that position and we would have to call for an emergency congress’

“Most often it is the youth that creates confusion but in the case of the NPP that is not the case. It is rather the elders that are creating confusion. I believe all these hardliners in the party must soften their stands. The NPP cannot continue to behave as if we are too knowledgeable because Democracy without strategy is dangerous” he added.