Nana Mad At Kufuor

-Ignores his phone calls and still Avoids Afoko, Agyapong

In its June 2015 edition, Africawatch magazine made a profound statement and followed it with a rhetorical question "…the NPP is immersed in deep distrust and undercurrents of treachery in the party pose a clear and present danger to its fortunes... The only remaining question is whether Akufo-Addo can fix the broken trust in the party in time for the next elections?" The paper asked.

Certainly, the 2016 flag bearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party is far from fixing the "broken trust" in the party. Latest goings-on in the opposition NPP, The aL-hAJJ can confirm, indicates that the 2016 flag bearer of the party, Nana Akufo Addo, has cast wide his dragnet of revulsion and vilification to include ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor.

Nana Akufo-Addo, according to reports reaching this paper, is blaming former President Kufuor for foiling his carefully thought out plot to flush out the party's National Chairman, Paul Afoko and General Secretary, Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, using his loyal lieutenants.

Although Mr Kufuor was outside the country when Nana Akufo-Addo and his acolytes of regional chairmen attempted to forcefully pass a no confidence vote on the two beleaguered National officers, (whom they say are loyal to the Kufuor faction) party insiders say, the twice defeated presidential candidate accused the ex-president of instigating executives in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions to scuttle his well rehearsed plot to remove the duo from office.

A Party source told The al-hAJJ "only best known to him, Nana has since the start of the agitations by regional chairmen of the party seeking the removal of Afoko and Kwabena Agyapong ignored phone calls from former President Kufuor."

Mr. Kufuor, who was in abroad when the NPP snatched news headlines following the death of Adams Mahama, on Thursday, May 28 expressed sadness and deep worry over happenings in the party.

He reiterated the need for calm and circumspection in the affairs of the party and further cautioned party members against acrimonious accusations in the media which only serve to further divide their ranks and allow their detractors to infiltrate them.

A statement signed by his aide, Frank Agyekum, said the former NPP Leader "who has been engaging the rank and file of the party over the phone on the on-going wrangling, finds it disquieting that issues that must be resolved in accordance with laid down procedures of the party’s constitution are constantly being discussed in the media without regard to the overall effect on its fortunes".

The former president urged that the painful and untimely passing away of Alhaji Mahama should be used to unite the party and not tear it apart.

However, a source told The aL-hAJJ, "this statement by Kufuor angered Akufo Addo, hence the snub..., it was not until when it became obvious their wicked plot won't succeed that he finally answered to Kufuor's call. This, even compel the former president to remark to a close ally 'afeyedie akwanu afa me call' to wit 'finally, he has now answered to my call".

Even though Nana Akufo-Addo at his last press conference at the party headquarters had called for calm, and entreated NPP supporters, especially those hostile to Afoko and Kwabena Agyapong's leadership to rally behind the party's national leaders, he reported to have since the botch impeachment, been avoiding the duo like a plaque.

Akufo-Addo's sheer dislike for the two NPP National officers, who are erroneously carrying a badge of pro-Alan Kyeremanten forces working against a Nana Akufo-Addo presidency for the 2016 elections, our sources say, accounts for the reasons why the two personalities have not been seen together with the flag bearer at any public gathering.

"Ever since Nana failed to impeach Afoko and Kwabena, he has been avoiding them like a taboo. Until recently, he does not want to be seen with them in public..., even the recent pictures you saw of him with Kwabena were just for the cameras. I can tell you for a fact that he is still bitter with them…left to him alone, they should go," a source revealed.

Another source at the Nima residence of the foremost opposition leader revealed that due to Nana Akufo-Addo's abhorrence for his party National Chairman and General Secretary, he only communicate with them through third parties.

Reports are that if the 2016 flag bearer has to communication with either the National Chairman, Paul Afoko or Kwabena Agyapong, General Secretary, it has to be through a third person, most often, former council of state member, Madam Ama Busia and "in instances where he was unable to reach Madam Ama, he either ask someone to convey the message to them (Paul and Kwabena) or send them text messages."

While Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyapong are said to be making frantic efforts to unite the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo, who obviously will be the prime beneficiary of such an effort, is reported to be indifferent, as he has not given up on using his surrogates in the National Executives to undermine his perceived internal foes.

Presently, the party's reinstated treasurer, Kwabena Abankwah Yeboah is reported to have declared that he is not answerable to the National Chairman and Kwabena Agyapong, hence his refusal to release party funds in his possession to the two embattled senior executives.

Recent media reports alleged the treasurer has kept huge party's funds generated from filling fees in the just ended parliamentary primaries into a private account on the behest of Nana Akufo-Addo whiles Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyapong struggle to raise money for campaigning in the July 7, 2015 Talensi bye-election.

The sins of Afoko and Kwabena Agyapong, accoding to a source, is their alleged close association with former President Kufuor and Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten. The duo are also said to be undergoing their present predicament because they are alleged to have sworn to resist any attempt at compelling the use of party funds to settle a private debt owed Prudential Bank.

The two have previously been accused of taking luxurious four wheel V8 vehicles as bribe from the ruling National Democratic Congress to work against Nana Akufo-Addo's interest.

These claims, their accusers say, feeds into former President Kufuor and his former Chief of Staff, Kwadwo Mpiani's plans to deny Nana Akufo-Addo the opportunity of equaling his late father and Ghana's former President, Edward Akufo-Addo's record.

Stay tuned.