NPP MPs Fight for Top Positions

After Making Noise of Going to Court…

By A A Yayra

Even though the New Patriotic Party Members of Parliament have openly and sturdily back their defeated Presidential Candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s quest of gathering evidence to back his claims that President Mahama did not win the just ended election, information available to The Al-Hajj reveals that the minority MPs are engaged in full swing underground lobbying and political scheming, for the various leadership positions in the next Parliament. Tempers are said to have gone through the roof as 27 MPs from the minority, allegedly led by MP for Suhum and outgoing Minority Chief Whip, Frederick Opare Ansah have written a strong worded petition to the leadership of the NPP not to retain the MP for Suame, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu as the Minority leader of the sixth Parliament of the Fourth Republic Sources within the minority hinted The Al-Hajj that, seven MPs who were signatories to the said petition to ‘oust’ the outgoing minority leader have dissented, claiming “they were not aware of any petition to the party leadership not to renew the mandate of Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu as leader of the minority in the next parliament. Information picked up indicates that there is a bad blood between Frederick Opare Ansah and the outgoing minority leader, hence the urgent and frantic moves to get rid of him for somebody who can foster unity among the minority side of the august house.

Another group within the minority led by the MP for Aburi constituency, O B Amoah is seriously dusting the CV of Osei Kyei Mensah Bosu with the hope of winning the heart of the NPP leadership to elevate the minority leader to the position of the second Deputy Speaker of Parliament.

The Al-Hajj has gathered that O. B Amoah’s group is working hard to get the Suame MP reassign to that position in order for them to lobby for their preferred candidate who will lead the minority to a stiff battle against the Majority, which is said to have slated young, vociferous, experienced and energetic MPs as front liners for next years’ parliament

Meanwhile, The Al-Hajj has picked up strong signals that whiles Opare Ansah and O. B Amoah’s group are frantically scheming for their preferred candidate, the MP for Essikado –Ketan constituency and former Attorney General in the Kufuor administration, Joe Ghartey is convincingly knocking on the doors of the leadership of the party to be nominated as either second deputy speaker or minority leader of next year’s parliament

A close confidant of the Essikado-Ketan MP disclosed to The Al-Hajj that his boss is playing the Western and Central region card to win the heart of the NPP leadership, especially when the Party has not perform well in the last election in those regions.

“Mr Ghartey is optimistic that when he is handed any of the two positions, people of the Western and Central region will feel compensated and will vote for the party in the next election to ensure a resounding victory for the party” the source disclosed.

Meanwhile, a leading member of the NPP who spoke to The Al-Hajj on condition of anonymity explained that should the party consider anybody from the Western or Central region, it will definitely not be Joe Ghartey.

According to him “if the party should decide to play the Western and Central card to court voters in the next election, the ideal candidate will be the MP for Sekondi, Paapa Owusu Ankomah because he is a senior to Joe Ghartey and he commands lot of respect in those regions as compared to Essikado-Ketan MP” Meanwhile, some NPP MPs who have virtually ruled themselves out of the minority frontline positions in parliament are also said to be crafting a befitting underground political scheme to take over from their contemporaries currently serving as chairpersons and ranking members of the various standing and select committees of the law making house.

Currently, The Al-Hajj is in the know that the MP elect for the Anyaa-Sowutuom constituency and a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of parliamentary, Shirley Ayokor Botchway is showcasing her foreign affairs relations dexterity to be considered as a ranking member of the same committee Our sources with the minority conceded that there are serious deviousness going on to take over the chairmanship position of the Public Accounts Committee, which is currently been occupied by the MP for Afigya Sekyere West, Albert Kan-Dapaah and the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation also been chaired by MP for Nsuta-Kwamang, Kwame Osei-Prempeh and other key committees in parliament Though the source was tight lipped on the MPs who have their eyes on the committees, he was quick to add that “there is serious contest for the various position and the occupants of those post must tightened their belt or else…” The NPP has rejected the official results of the elections, as announced by the chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr Afari Gyan, and has officially given its intent to contest the results, which awarded the National Democratic Congress candidate, John Dramanai Mahama, 50.70 per cent of valid votes cast, as against 47.7 for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The party’s stance is against the background of what it terms gross “abnormalities” which characterized figures which placed President Mahama as winner of the polls.

The party is still gathering evidence to file its case at the Supreme Court within 21 days, as stipulated by the Constitution to challenge the electoral results with the sole aim of getting the court to rule in favor of their candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo.