Akufo-Addo Faithfuls Take Control Of NPP National Council?

The New Patriotic Party held a three-day regional extraordinary delegates conference to elect regional representatives to serve on the Party's National Council.

The election of regional representatives on the National Council is the first since the Party's formation. The norm was that regional representatives were appointed to represent the different sectors of their respective regions.

However, in very recent times, the National Chairman and Leader of the party, Mr. Paul Afoko, raised concerns about the constitution of the National Council. Many members within the party viewed Mr. Afoko's concern as a means of delaying the date of the presidential primaries to the benefit of his preferred candidate, Alan Kyerementen.

Shortly after Mr. Afoko made his concerns known, one Mr. David Hoezame, a former constituency chairman of the party, sued the party and the National Chairman of the NPP, seeking declarations and orders echoing the concerns of Mr. Afoko regarding the constitution of the National Council.

Interestingly, David Hoezame's suit was commenced around the same time as Alan Kyeremanten picked his nomination forms for the presidential primaries. Many members in the NPP believe that Mr. Afoko and Alan Kyeremanten are behind the Writ issued by David Hoezame to further delay the presidential primaries in favour of Alan Kyeremanten.

Faced with this constitutional dilemma, the NPP issued notices for regional extraordinary delegates conference to be held pursuant to Articles 7(15) and (18) of the party's constitution, to elect regional representatives to serve on the National Council. The said elections were held from Friday, June 27, 2014 to Sunday, June 29, 2014.

Indeed, members on the National Council believed to be loyalists of Alan Kyeremanten faced heavy opposition and lost their seats in the election while the Akufo-Addo faithfuls received overwhelming endorsements to represent their regions.

Notably, Kwadwo Mpiani, who served as a regional representative from the Ashanti Region was not given the nod to return to serve on behalf of the region. Kwadwo Mpiani is also an adviser to Chairman Afoko, and he is the leader of the group against the Akufo-Addo presidency.

Meanwhile, Dr. Amoako-Tuffuor, a staunch Akufo-Addo supporter was maintained to represent the Ashanti Region on the National Council. In the Eastern Region, Dr. Annor (another staunch Alan Kyeremanten loyalist) was denied the opportunity of representing the region on the National Council while a close confidant of Akufo-Addo, Hon. Yaw Osafo Marfo, was given the nod. Similarly, in the Central Region, Hon. Kwamena Bartels was given the nod to represent the region on the National Council. Hon. Kwamena Bartels is also believed to be an Akufo-Addo loyalist.

Greater Accra Region was no different. Hon. Ayorkor Botchway, Hon. Adjiri Blankson and Prof. Mike Oquaye were all elected to represent the region on the National Council. The said persons are all Akufo-Addo loyalists. In Brong Ahafo, known Akufo-Addo faithfuls including Prof. Akumfi Ameyaw, were also elected to represent the region on the National Council.

The Akufo-Addo camp hopes that the tsunami, which has swept through the party in the regional representatives election, should send a strong signal to the Alan Kyeremanten camp, particularly his agents, assigns, privies and workmen namely Chairman Paul Afoko and Secretary Kwabena Agyepong that the party is serious about winning power in 2016.

Day by day, it becomes obvious that Alan Kyeremanten is setting himself up for the most humiliating defeat in his political life. That is if he ever had one.

The Ghanaian Palaver can confirm that Nana Akufo-Addo, who is currently in London, was particularly pleased upon hearing the outcome of the regional representative elections. The paper learnt that he has called all contestants and has wished them well, and has further encouraged them to come on board to work hard for the party's victory in 2016.

Source: Ghanaian Palaver