A former first National Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has told Citi News, the party’s image has been dented by Tuesday’s violence at the party’s headquarters.
“If I say no damage has been caused, I probably will be lying to myself,” he said.
Fred Oware noted that the NPP which is known to be a democratic party is gradually losing its credentials.
“I can’t find the right words to express myself,” he lamented, adding that it was an unfortunate incident “and I wish it hadn’t happened.”
A news conference by the NPP’s National Chairman and General Secretary was disrupted by some irate youth wielding guns and machetes.
They were demanding the resignation of the party’s general secretary, Kwabena Agyapong over certain appointments and dismissals of some party officials.
Calm has since been restored through the intervention of the chairman, Paul Afoko and some personnel of the Ghana Police Service.
The act has been widely condemned by ex-President John Kufuor, presidential aspirant of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo, other political parties and the general public
Mr. Oware acknowledged that although the act was shameful, the NPP will resolve its internal matters to enable it present a formidable front in 2016.
He however maintained that contrary to widely held perceptions, the party is not in crisis “and what happens beyond this point will determine that.”
Mr. Oware was hopeful that if the aggrieved members of the party are able to “bottle up” their concerns, “I do not think that we should have any problems.”
With two years to the general elections, the former vice chair of the NPP said it is a great opportunity for the party to repair “whatever damage that has been caused.”
He counseled party executives and members to make sure that “within the shortest possible period, we are able to make amends the Ghanaian public.”
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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