The New Patriotic Party(NPP) has described as baseless, submissions by a leading member of the party Dr Arthur Kennedy that Nana Akufo-Addo should have specifically condemned attempts by regional executives to remove both the National Chairman and the General Secretary.
[contextly_sidebar id=”Ku3E6QCQJnfbg31faPV9M7ykr38MECTq”]Arthur Kennedy was not satisfied with the flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo’s press conference on Friday where he sternly declared he will not tolerate chaos in the party, and asked for the infighting to stop.
In an interview on The Big Issue on Citi FM on Saturday, Dr Arthur Kennedy said Nana Addo should have “unequivocally condemned the impeachment procedures” against the two, Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong.
The Communications Director of the party Nana Akomea in response said Nana Addo’s decision to refer those asking for Afoko and Agyepong’s removal to the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) was a step in the right direction.
“He [Arthur Kennedy] said Akufo Addo should have come out clearly and condemn the cause of impeachment. Why will Akufo Addo do that. These are opinions being expressed by party members so what Nana Akufo Addo advised was for party members to follow the grievance procedure.”
Nana Akomea also rubbished Dr Arthur Kennedy’s claims that the Chairman and General Secretary are not being allowed to work effectively.
“When people go to congress and contest positions, they are entitled to hold the positions except for illness, death or something extraordinary. For some time now, it has been occurring that there have been some people who are determined not to let Mr Afoko and Mr Agyepong serve their term and the two of them as they are entitled, are determined to serve the mandate.” He further argued that the current confusion in the NPP could stop “If people stop trying to hound them [Afoko and Agyepong] out of office,” Arthur Kennedy said.
Nana Akomea in a rebuttal, questioned the basis for Arthur Kennedy’s claims, saying he had no evidence to support his position.
“Arthur Kennedy makes the point that people don’t want Afoko and Agyepong to work without any proof…What is the basis of his statement that people have prevented the Chairman and the General Secretary from working,” he queried.
On Thursday some loyalists of the National Chairman, Paul Afoko clashed with the “Invisible Forces,” a security group guarding the party’s headquarters.
Afoko’s supporters were demanding that party allows the chairman to work from the headquarters and allowed to function.
During Nana Addo’s Friday press conference, he ordered party elements preventing the National Chairman and General Secretary from working from their offices at the party’s headquarters to allow them access.
The “Invisible Forces” have heeded the call by the presidential candidate to grant Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong access to their offices.
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By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah