<<Print>>

What started as in-house friendly hostilities within the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) is degenerating into a huge fracas likely to tear the party into shreds before it goes to congress to elect national executives on March 1, 2014. The big shots of the party that prides itself on being full of elite and intellgentsia are insulting each other on a daily basis on the airwaves because each of them wants to ride the elephant as the leader. The fast rate at which the self-destruction is moving has attracted the attention of some party insiders, but with the atmosphere fully charged, they are overly cautious to start any damage repair. Former President J.A. Kufuor, among others, could help save the nasty situation within the NPP, but he is very cautious. The ill manner the attacks among the big shots are moving have also paved the way for some youngsters, who otherwise are weightless in the party, to insult the grownups. One person who seems to be at the receiving end of the attack is no other than Mr. Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey. Just recently he was called names by self-acclaimed financier of the NPP, member of the comity of braggarts and self acclaimed multi-billionaire, Mr. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong. Although, the NPP Chairman responded to the issues raised by Mr. Agyapong, it did not have any effect as the Assin Central MP is still at his heels. This time round, Mr. Agyapong says that he would spend $20million to embark on a crusade to ensure that Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey and the other national executives were not retained, come March 1, 2014. Before Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey would come out of Mr. Agyapon�s attack, Mr. Fred Oware, first Vice-Charmian of the NPP, has also gone haywire. His blazing guns went onto no other person than his boss, Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey. Mr. Oware is reported to be angry with his boss because Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey had said on television he (Mr. Oware) once told him he would not contest for the NPP chair should Jake decide to seek re-election. Mr. Oware, who is noted for his cool-headiness, was also reported to have used strong words on his boss. Then the same Mr. Oware went out chasing Mr. Agyapong, Assin Central MP, who is well noted for his clumsiness. The owner of Accra-based Choice FM was not enthused about how the MP was running his mouth about how he wanted to form a party. The NPP Vice Chairman shot down Mr. Agyapong�s threat of going to form a party and said the NPP was bigger than anybody and that nobody could hold the party hostage. Then Mr. Kwabena Agyapong, a contender for the general secretary post, jumped into the fray and also whacked Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey and other executives of the party for not doing enough to resolve the perceived factionalism within the party. Party insiders are very worried that until cool heads prevail, the NPP will in no time destroy itself. Interestingly, the General Secretary of the party, Mr. Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, alias Sir John, has remained calm despite the numerous personal attacks and insults heaped on him. The party insiders told 'The Enquirer' the attitude of the big shots engaged in insulting each other is just destroying the NPP for posterity. According to the insiders, the party is surviving on old glories and that there is nothing showing that the party is made of the elite and intelligentsia. The NPP insiders expressed worry about the attitude of the Assin Central MP, saying he was just destroying his political future with his disrespect towards party leaders. The insiders said the NPP now radiates the aura of a real confused largest opposition party and there are ample signs that the party would have huge problems that will affect its chances in 2016.