Supporters Give NPP Ultimatum

Kumasi — A group constituting itself into "Supporters of the Three NPP Independent MPs" in Kumasi, has given a 72-hour ultimatum to the leadership of the NPP to consider regularizing the membership of the three independent candidates or be compelled to advice themselves

They want the party to accept the independent legislators, who are currently on the side of the minority in Parliament, or they (supporters) would be compelled to push the MPs to withdraw their support for the NPP in Parliament. "It is about time the NPP reciprocate their loyalty to the party, since their efforts went a long way to alleviate the party's massive humiliation during the 2008 elections," the group said.

The independent Members of Parliament are Messrs. Nana Edward Yaw Ofori-Kuragu (Bosome-Frejo), Seth Agyei Baah (Nkawkaw) and Joseph Osei-Wusu, (Bekwai).

A statement issued in Kumasi on Thursday, and signed by Mr. Tony Bediako, spokesman of the Supporters observed that the NPP leadership did not recognize the very people who rallied behind the independent MPs to win the parliamentary seats, whose support the NPP is currently enjoying in Parliament.

The group said they expected the NPP Independent parliamentarians to have been absorbed into the NPP by now, to pave the way for their subsequent absorption to champion the cause of the party.

According to the spokesman, efforts by the group to get the party hierarchy normalize the membership of the three Independent MPs have not yielded any positive result, hence the decision to back out of any arrangements and make sure the said MPs withdraw their support for the NPP in parliament, or face the consequences at the next elections.

Mr. Bediako hinted that the group is currently mobilizing the support of supporters of NPP candidates who failed in their parliamentary aspirations to unleash the next course of action, after the expiration of the 72-hour ultimatum.

They are wondering why the NPP cannot, after soliciting the support of the Independent MPs, accept them as members of the party for all these months.

According to the group, the circumstances that led to the MPs to stand as independent candidates was occasioned by the party itself, and therefore matters should not be dragged into the next elections.