Palace coup in NPP

...17 chairmen vow to remove Nana Owusu Ankomah

The Western Regional Chairman of the Ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Owusu Ankomah must convince his constituency chairmen why he should not be removed as party chairman, else, he faces this week a toppling ?Coup d? tat? that would bring his administration to an abrupt end.

The Chairmen and Regional Executives having appended their signature to a resolution have sworn heaven and earth to pass a vote of no confidence on Nana Owusu Ankomah if he did not clear up his ?gross administrative lapses.? Unimpeachable sources within the party informed our reporter that the stance to have Mr. Ankomah removed was the idea of some executives of the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis. For instance, it was said that the

The Essikado-Ketan Constituency?s Chairman, Mr. Eric Opoku is one of the Chairmen who have called for Nana Owusu Ankomah?s removal as Western Regional Chairman, our sources said. But when asked if it was true, Mr. Eric Opoku denied the allegation saying in a telephone interview, ?I can?t say anything. I can?t comment.?

The Chairmen said the ?gross administrative lapses? mentioned include Mr. Ankomah?s alleged failure to account for the exact amount of money realized during the NPP fund raising dinner dance held here last year. The amount of money realized at the said programme according to the resolution was locked up in the private bank account of the Regional Chairman.

They further said that Nana Owusu Ankomah failed to share the regions? 110 million cedis transport fare to the delegates who traveled to Accra for the party?s Delegate?s Congress 22nd December 2007.

The regional Secretary, Mr. Anthony K. Sam refused to append his signature to the no-vote-of confidence resolution. He is the only person so far who has declined to participate into Nana Owusu Ankomah?s saga. ?I am not aware of such ?coup d? tat? to topple my,? he said in a telephone contact. ?This is the first time I am hearing this from you,? he said to our reporter.

The Regional Executives of the party are made up of Mr. Kojo Acquah, Organizer, Onasis Aminu, Youth Organizer, Swanzy Essuman, Deputy Secretary and Esther Nyame, Treasurer. The first and second vice positions of the Woman Organizer of the party have not yet been occupied since the incumbents resigned.

The Takoradi Constituency Chairman, Mr. Muhammed Mumuni has asked to study thoroughly the contents of the resolution before he would append his signature to it. But the Amenfi Central Chairman, Mr. Kojo Armah said he signed the resolution confirming sixteen other constituencies? chairmen who affixed their signature to the resolution.

Mr. Armah expressed the hope in the telephone interview that by the close of this week they would have succeeded in convincing the other five constituencies Chairmen to support them in the resolution to remove Nana Owusu Ankomah from Regional Chairman.

Meanwhile, some constituencies? secretaries who know about the removal action of Mr. Ankomah have vowed to kick against the move.

The said ?it is unconstitutional to have Nana Owusu Ankomah removed.? One of the secretaries who claimed anonymity said ?the Chairmen are not the only persons who voted the Regional Chairman to office; we, the secretaries, voted for him too.?

?Thus, we are resolved to kick against the resolution to have Mr. Ankomah removed by legitimate means.?

He said they are expected to hold a press conference this week to officially declare their position on the matter of the resolution to have Nana Owusu Ankomah removed from office as Regional Chairman.