Tough-talking former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John, has ended his virtual break from active politics.

He seems to have been provoked by ongoing developments in his party, which according to him, must be stemmed before they get out of hand.

This follows speculations that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, two times standard bearer of the NPP, might cede his position to his two-time running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, should he (Nana Addo) win the flagbearer contest of the NPP.

That, according to the rumour mongers, was because Akufo-Addo was not too well enough to lead the party into the crucial 2016 general elections, prompting an immediate and swift response from the UK branch of the party. It (UK branch) has described the rumour as a “vicious lie.”

Ploy

In an interview with DAILY GUIDE, the former General Secretary described the rumour as not only wicked, but “vicious campaign aimed at marring the third term bid of the man,” adding that it was coming from “desperate minds.” Even though he fell short of mentioning names, Sir John said he knew those behind this vicious scheme, and threatened to expose them if they did not stop the malicious campaign.

According to him, they were the same people who fabricated a similar story claiming that Yaw Buaben Asamoa had ceded to him (Sir John) ahead of the National Delegates Conference in Tamale which saw his (Sir John’s) defeat.

“They will not have it easy because we are ready to face them boot for boot if they continue this way,” Sir John said.

“I want to state emphatically that I’ve seen him, I’ve been with him and the man is as fit as fiddle”, he noted, daring those behind the scheme to produce evidence to back their claims or shut up.

Nana Akufo-Addo was at the thanksgiving church service at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Accra yesterday and is expected to file his nomination papers today.

Charge

Mr. Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie has therefore asked those with doubts to meet Nana at the party headquarters at Asylum Down, Accra, today as he files his nominations… “so people should not entertain any doubts in their minds about the fitness of Nana Akufo-Addo to run and to be President of this country.”

Sir John was of the firm belief that the vile propaganda was coming from within the NPP and therefore cautioned those behind it to stop before they were exposed, insisting that “he will contest; Ghanaians want him and he will certainly emerge victorious at our primary.”

According to him, “Instead of focusing our energies to fighting the NDC and its ineptitude, we appear to have targeted ourselves and fighting unnecessary warfare; a warfare that will not help us to win the 2016 elections.”

He emphasized, “The worry of Ghanaians is whether or not Akufo-Addo is coming; not that Akufo-Addo will not win; and therefore those who are speculating such wicked rumours should bow their heads in shame”.

Sir John has therefore called for calm in the party, asking all party supporters and Ghanaians to rally behind Nana Akufo-Addo – to save the country from the hands of the NDC.

“I have no doubt in my mind that come 2016 Akufo-Addo will emerge victorious and become President of Ghana; he is the hope of Ghana,” he stressed.