Kwadwo Mpiani, a former minister of presidential affairs and chief of staff in the John Kufuor administration, has blamed President Akufo-Addo directly for the challenges facing the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
On PM Express on Joy News, the party stalwart said in response to the former trade and industry minister Alan Kyerematen’s resignation from the NPP that the party’s issues started the day Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyapong were unjustly ousted from their positions as national chairman and general secretary.
Mr. Alan Kyerematen alleged that the party had been taken over by a small group of people who intimidate anyone who disagree with them in his resignation announcement and subsequently decided to run as an independent presidential candidate for the 2024 elections.
When asked if he agreed with Alan Kyerematen’s assertion that a small group of people had taken over the party, the 83-year-old said yes.
“Well, in a sense, sure. The day the party decided to fire its Chairman (Paul Afoko) and General Secretary (Kwabena Agyapong), which, in my opinion, was against our own party regulations, the party did it, I believe the difficulties within the party grew worse.
Unfortunately, some group members, including those to which I belong, take delight in this by claiming that they were able to get rid of these individuals. The problem we have in the party that we are not dealing with is that as soon as the party got rid of these individuals, they gave the party to one man who was the candidate at the time and is now the President. And if we don’t address this issue, the party will continue to experience challenges.
The NPP stalwart responded when asked specifically if he meant that President Akufo-Addo and his supporters are those who have taken over the party, “What I am saying is that there was this problem, and the party in its wisdom decided to give the party to the Candidate Akufo-Addo, who’s now President Akufo-Addo.”
Despite describing Alan’s departure and subsequent decision as regrettable, the well-known Kufuor loyalist agreed with him in general that there are issues within the party.
Despite the fact that he claimed Alan did not consult him before making his choice, he claimed he was neither surprised nor opposed to it.
There have been issues with the party, but we members are trying to act like ostriches and are blind to the issues within the party. I wasn’t overly surprised by what happened because I’ve been warning my coworkers that, if we’re unlucky, there would be more significant upheavals in the future given the direction the party is going.
“I have had the opportunity to speak with my colleagues, even at the Council of Elders, about the need for us to sit up and try to address the party’s problems. We will come to regret acting as though everything is fine in the future. Unfortunately, some individuals didn’t quite get into what I was saying, and this is one of the results of the party’s current dynamics, he said.
He echoed Alan’s assertion that a small group had taken over the party, adding, “Unfortunately, the party has become a sort of club for a small group of people within the party where decisions are decided by them, and then all members are expected to follow those judgments. Although people are unable to demonstrate openly, those of us who are observing hear many complaints from party members of all levels, including those at the top. Some of us are aware that things are not going well within the party”
Many unsatisfied party members who have complained about the party’s current position, according to Mr. Mpiani, may wish to join Alan’s train if conditions do not change.
“He said that he is ready to lead that conversation if the party need him to do so. He said the party elders may need to approach Alan and ask him to re-join the party. He asserted that the party can overcome its current difficulties if the appropriate actions are taken”.
“Well, we should endeavor to get better. The party has a very lengthy history, with its roots dating back to the 1950s, when it first formed the United Party. And therefore, in my opinion, we should reconsider our convictions and make an effort to live them out. If we do that, we must be able to bounce back.
When asked if the present situation will hurt the party in the 2024 elections, Mr. Mpiani responded, “I don’t know yet, but I am sure it is going to affect the party.”
He said it was common for party officials to downplay the significance of Alan’s departure, but they won’t do so in private.
Alan is leaving the party for the second time. He ran against Akufo-Addo in the 2007 presidential primaries and complained about the electoral process afterward before resigning.
He rejoined the NPP after the party vowed to address his problems, only to leave once more, this time to run as an independent in the presidential race.