NPP set for doom; Afoko, Agyepong fight for control of party

Coming events, they say, cast their shadow.

Trouble has already started brewing at the National Headquarters of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) between Party Chairman, Mr. Paul Afoko and General-Secretary, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, as to who has the right and authority to control the party.

The current issue of the Africawatch magazine alludes to an example of two different statements issued separately from the two personalities congratulating Ghanaian workers on May 1, 2014.

This, political pundits believe, was not only controversial, but paints a picture of a major political party echelon lacking cohesion at its apex.

We publish below, unedited the appropriate portions from the magazine:

“As if that was not controversial enough, on Workers’ Day (May 1), Afoko issued a statement on behalf of the NPP, exhorting workers to continue to serve the nation with all their soul and mind despite the current hardships.

“Our country is currently going through a bad patch and workers are at the receiving end of most of it all,” Afoko said. Nevertheless, we encourage you to keep hopes alive and continue to offer your best in our collective interest and effect to make our nation a better place.”

It was a good statement by any definition released on behalf of the party by its elected national chairman. But Agyapong had other ideas. He also issued a statement on behalf of the NPP in his capacity as general secretary, praising workers and asking them to work tirelessly towards achieving economic progress and strengthen the country’s democracy.

Agyapong went on: “The NPP acknowledge the current economic hardships have worsen the plight of our workers and has adversely affected our nation’s development. Nevertheless, the NPP urges workers from various economic sectors of the economy, especially organized labor, to remain steadfast in collective interest in our dear nation Ghana.”

It did not need the mind of a rocket scientist to see the similarities in what Afoko said on behalf of the NPP and what Agyapong later said on behalf of the NPP. This has raised disquieting eyebrows as to why the general secretary felt it necessary to issue a statement when the national chairperson has also spoken.

What was the point of Agyapong’s statement when Afoko had already made similar remarks on behalf of the party? Or is it merely a personality clash?