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The New Patriotic Party (NPP) leadership has denied accusations that a small group of individuals have taken control of the party.
On Monday, September 25, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen announced his resignation from the party and his decision to run as an independent during a news conference.
Alan alleged that a “selected group of Party leaders and elders, as well as government appointees behind the curtain power brokers,” had “hijacked” the party.
Nevertheless, in response to him on Tuesday, September 26, NPP General Secretary Justin Koduah rejected the statement.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the leadership of the Party equally disagrees with assertions made by Mr. Kyerematen on page eight (8) of his resignation address that ‘the Party has been hijacked by a selected group of Party leaders and elders, and government appointees behind the curtain power brokers’.”
“Guided by facts and data, the leadership of the Party disagrees entirely with this assertion. Historically, the selection of flagbearers for political parties in Ghana had been the preserve of a favored few up until the New Patriotic Party made the brave decision to decentralize the process by enlarging its electoral college to include about 106,590 delegates in 2010.
In comparison to the projected 1,998 delegates (1,998) who chose the Party’s flagbearer in 1992, he continued, “Right now, roughly 200,000 delegates would be voting to determine the Party’s next flagbearer. It is obvious that the quantum jump to 200,000 delegates in 2023 emphasizes the devolution of authority to all Party stakeholders and disproves the claim that the Party has been taken over by a wealthy minority.
Further refuting Mr. Kyerematen’s allegations that his supporters had been intimidated, he emphasized that government officials, including cabinet members who had publicly expressed their support for him, were still in their positions.
“In reference to Mr Kyerematen’s concerns, which include allegations of intimidation against his supporters, it is noteworthy that certain government appointees, including cabinet ministers, who openly declared their support for him are still at post and have never been intimidated,” Mr Kodua said.
He claims that the NPP now bears almost little similarity to the group he joined as a founding member in 1992.
In a statement dated September 5, 2023, Alan Kyerematen, who finished third in the party’s special delegates conference on August 26, announced his choice to withdraw from the NPP Presidential primary scheduled for November 4.
He gave two reasons for withdrawing from the race: the intimidation of his agents and the perception that the campaign has been rigged to favor one of the contenders.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
