NPP ban on media interviews: Kufuor/Alan faction angry

The John Agyekum Kofi Diawuo Kufuor/John Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen faction of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) is very livid over a temporary ban imposed on leading members of the party by the National Executive Committee (NEC), barring them from granting media interviews .

Speaking to The Informer over the weekend, a member of the group, Mr. Samuel Ataa Kwame, confirmed the information picked up by this paper that leading members have been temporarily barred from speaking to the media.

Samuel Kwame Ataa’s sterling revelation was also confirmed in an interview the Deputy NPP Communications Director, Mr. Perry Okudzeto, granted the Weekend Sun Newspaper, which was published in last Friday’s edition.

Ataa explained that, “as a political party which believes in democracy and openness, it was surprising that the National Executive would issue such a directive in an attempt to cover up the way and manner members of the former President Kufuor faction are being marginalized and intimidated”.

According to him, an example of such intimidation and marginalization is the refusal of Nana Akufo-Addo to work with persons like Michael Ampong, aka Dzagbele, Mr. Kenwuud Nuworsu, the Volta Regional Chairman, disappointed National Youth Organizer and Pius Hadzede, the NPP’s 2012 Ketu South Parliamentary aspirant; as they were perceived to belong to the Kufuor/Alan faction.

In the Weekend Sun interview being referenced, Mr. Perry Okudzeto said; “at the moment we have suspended all forms of interviews involving any member of our communications team, at least, for the time being; because the party has reunited and we are trying to avoid anything that will generate any misunderstanding once again”.

According to him, the decision was taken to forestall any misunderstanding between party members who may be called by media houses to air their views on issues within the party, as result of past experiences.

He said, the reason being that; “because when they give platform for interviews, they turn-out to say things that in a way affect the image of the party and others respond to their comments. This creates misunderstanding; and that is why we are doing that".

The decision by the National Executive of the NPP as confirmed by Samuel Kwame Ataa, however, has forced discerning minds to ask whether the NPP really merits the credential as apostles of democracy, as it has always wanted the good people of Ghana to believe.