A founder member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr George Ayisi Boateng, has scorned what he termed, unnecessary meddling in the party’s internal affairs by some leaders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He said he found it curious, the way their sworn political opponents in the ruling party were acting and behaving in respect of his party’s flag-bearer contest.
Their pronouncements - thinly veiled preference for a particular candidate, who has put himself up for election by the NPP to lead it to battle in 2016, for political power, is sending out wrong signals.
It is fueling rumors that the government is sponsoring this candidate. Mr Ayisi-Boateng made reference to alleged declaration of support and call to the NPP delegates to give their votes to Mr Allan Kwadwo Kyerematen, by Mr Abraham Amaliba, a leading member of the NDC, and described that as “surprising”.
Mr Amaliba is reported to have said in his contribution to discussions on Joy FM’s flagship programme “Newsfile”, last Saturday, that Mr Kyerematen should be elected flag-bearer by the delegates on October 18.
“I am surprised that NDC members want to choose a leader for our party. Why would a political opponent decide to choose a presidential candidate for the opposing camp?”
He said doing so was dangerous to the “very survival of the nation’s multi-party democracy and push Ghana into a one party state”.
He warned that the actions of their opponents could defeat the purpose of both inter and intra party competition, which “always brings out the best among the lot”.
Mr Ayisi Boateng said the NDC has its own internal wrangling and challenges and should “mind its own business” - focus its energy on tackling their own problems.
Those trying desperately to impose candidates on the NPP should back off since the party has discerning people, capable of making the right political decisions and judgment.
It is important for Ghanaians to insist that the political parties are independent and formidable, to hold the government of the day to account and keep it on its toes.
