Alan, Akufo-Addo factions killing NPP – Ken Agyapong

Outspoken New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, says factionalism is gradually eating up the party like cancerous cells.

He blamed the divisions within the party on persons supporting the 2012 presidential candidate of the party, Nana Akufo-Addo and a flagbearer hopeful Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanteng.

Kennedy Agyapong was speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Wednesday September, 11.

Per the revised NPP constitution, elections for a National Electoral College to elect the party's flagbearer in 2016 would be held at polling stations at constituency, regional and national levels.

But even before this is done, supporters of the two key contenders, Nana Akufo-Addo and Alan Kyeremanteng, as well as some National Executives, have been lobbying strongly for their candidates.

Recently, the party's General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, declared his unflinching support for Nana Akufo-Addo. Mr Owusu Afriyie believes strongly that Nana Akufo-Addo is the right man to lead the party in the 2016 general elections.

The party's Ashanti Regional Chairman, Mr. Frederick F. Antoh, has also declared his support for Nana Akufo-Addo.

But some leading members of the party are of the view that the debate about who should lead the NPP in 2016 is ill-timed.

Kennedy Agyapong holds a similar view and describes the ongoing lobbying and factionalism in the party as “disgusting”.

According to him, the NPP is “sick” due to the factions in the party and thus as a matter of urgency, the national executives must find a cure for it - ahead of the general elections in 2016.

He maintained that Nana Akufo-Addo and Alan Kyeremanteng must cease to be a nightmare for the NPP since no one is above the party's laws.

The Assin Central MP noted that the party, after its electoral defeat in 2012 presidential and parliamentary elections, and the subsequent dismissal of the petition challenging the results in that elections, must remain united.

He said the party must restructure and restrategize to wrestle power from the NDC in the next elections.

The NPP, according to him, risks losing the elections in 2016 if party members feel isolated because they supported one faction or the other.

Kenedy Agyapong added that the onus is currently on the Executives of the party to ensure that everyone conforms to laid down procedures.