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Opinions of Monday, 10 February 2014

Columnist: Alhassan, Mohammed

Kwabena Agyepong is up to no good!

OPEN LETTER TO NPP DELEGATES: Kwabena Agyepong is up to no good!

My dear delegates,

The National Delegates’ Congress of the New Patriotic Party will in some 65 days from now elect national executives and one candidate in particular is causing waves and by the look of things may succeed in ousting Sir John from the position of General Secretary of the NPP.

Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, the former Press Secretary to President John Agyekum Kufuor, who was a part of the 17 candidates to contest in Legon in a bid to lead the party to the 2008 elections has now strangely hierarchically “demoted” himself to wanting to become the General Secretary of the NPP.

He is going round with the mantra “Think Victory”, trying to convince candidates that the time has come for party delegates to elect persons based on competency rather than their loyalties to perceived factions within the party.

But is this true? Is Kwabena Agyepong thinking of victory in 2016, or is this part of a grand strategy to ensure that control of the party is wrestled to persons sympathetic to Alan Kyerematen to ensure that Nana Akufo-Addo never becomes President?

My strong feelings, which are based on empirical evidence, is that Kwabena Agyepong is working not for victory in 2016, but for the parochial interest of Alan Kyerematen in 2020. Kwabena Agyepong doesn’t want an NPP victory in 2016, but in 2020.

A majority of delegates in the party have resolved to ensure that Alan Kyerematen never leads the party to any election. His credibility has been dented to such an extent that, he has no recognisable base in the party apart from loyalties from persons like Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong.

Alan’s resignation in 2008, his decision not to help/campaign for Nana Akufo-Addo in 2012 is glaring and an open secret. Even during the hectic hours of the Supreme Court proceedings challenging the results of the 2012 results declared by Dr Afari Gyan, Alan Keyeramaten was nowhere to be found. Indeed, he was busily trying to annex the position of WTO boss and abandoned the party.

Lest I forget, Kwabena Agyepong at the NPP National Executive Committee Meeting held at Alisa Hotel was against the NPP going to court, stating emphatically that the NPP had no case and were just clutching at straws.

After losing everything, Alan wants to make a comeback. However, his advisors know that the NPP is in no mood for any other candidate apart from Nana Akufo-Addo. Thus, he has to bide his time and wait for 2020 in the hope that Nana Addo loses 2016, making him, in his belief, the natural successor in 2020.

So how does he do this? Anyone who control the Chairmanship and General Secretary position of any party, literally controls the party. Does it therefore come as a surprise to anyone that Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong, persons who are loyal to Alan Kyeramaten are gunning to becoming the Chairman and General Secretary of the NPP, respectively? It is certainly not a coincidence, but part of a grand strategy.

Indeed, I am privy to minutes from a meeting (the contents of which I will share in my next piece) held at the residence of former Chief of Staff, Kojo Mpiani (another staunch loyalist of Alan) where Paul Afoko stated explicitly that “using Nana Addo’s name to campaign was working.”

This is the grand ploy. “The NPP is in no mood for Alan, therefore tell delegates what they want to hear. Tell them that you want victory and will work for Nana Akufo-Addo to become President in 2016. This is the only way delegates will countenance persons associated with Alan Kyerematen.”

This is what Kwabena Agyepong is telling delegates. Openly lying to them for their votes, knowing perfectly well that they intend to sabotage Nana Akufo-Addo for their own personal and selfish gains, which is in 2020.

NPP delegates cannot allow such persons to emerge victorious. The day the NPP elects Kwabena Agyepong or Paul Afoko for any position in the party, is the day we can all kiss 2016 goodbye. We can forget winning the elections, because these persons and the Alan camp do not want Nana Addo running the country.

I have no problem with any of the following: Stephen Ntim, Fred Oware, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (Sir John), Yaw Buaben Asamoah or Captain Nkrabea Effah Darteh, taking the topmost positions of our party. At least these are persons who want victory in 2016.

The NPP has come too close and fought so hard to allow Kwabena Agyepong and his likes to derail the train of victory. We cannot allow this to happen. If you want Nana Addo to have his peace of mind to work for victory in 2016, do not vote for Kwabena Agyepong.

Umkhonto we Sizwe. I will return.

Mohammed Alhassan

Builsa South Constituency