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Former Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Jake Obestebi Lamptey has denied claims that he is angry with the party and its 2016 flagbearer Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

He said he does not believe that an out-of-office chairman should be noisy, but should rather be silent – something he has learnt from his long years as a politician.

He said his decision to remain silent is to afford other young people in the party the opportunity to serve just as he has done over the years. He also stated unequivocally clear that he would not accept any position in the party ahead of the 2016 elections. 

“I am not angry with the NPP and Nana Addo. Silence is golden”, he said on Adom FM.

His comment is in reference to a publication in the Al-hajj Newspaper which suggested that the former chairman is irritated that the party and its flagbearer have neglected him. The paper stated “the staunch Nana Akufo-Addo devotee, who lost his post to Paul Afoko last year, the Al-Hajj is reliably informed, is stunned by the party's decision to neglect and sideline him.

“According to close associates of the onetime flagbearer aspirant and first Chief of Staff under the Kufuor administration and who is credited to be the brain behind former president Kufuor’s victory in the 2000 elections, Jake has now been reduced to an “ordinary foot soldier since he lost his post”, it continued.

But Mr Obetsebi Lamptey said he is not surprised at the publication and that the paper should not be taken serious. “It is a rubbishy paper and comes out with rubbishy publications…and this will not be the first time it has come out with rubbish and this will not be the last, that is what they are good for”, he said.

He noted that although he and the flagbearer are busy people, they get together from time to time to discuss issues concerning the advancement of the party and that they have a normal relationship.

He also denied claims that he is quitting politics saying “you cannot quit when you have the level of governance we have at the moment, I have always believed in the NPP as a founding member and I am fully committed to making sure that the NPP comes into office so that we get a better government.

“I don’t think this country deserves this bad government it has got now, I would like to see Nana Addo as president running a very good NPP administration”, he added. The former flagbearer aspirant said he will not accept any position in the party again because he believes it is time for others to work for the party.