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Opinions of Monday, 2 September 2019

Columnist: Charles McCarthy

Election 2020: Tension mounting in Mpohor constituency NPP

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There is an uneasy calm unsettling the rank and file of NPP executives in the Mpohor constituency as a result of impending disapproval and under-par performance by the current member of parliament of the area, Hon. Alex Kofi Agyekum.

This contention emanates from dissatisfaction as the Honorable NPP member of parliament has come under scrutiny to pass a litmus test, which many people believe he cannot pass.

This has been a subject of countless discussions amongst party faithful, hence their call for change, which is resonating well in the constituency.

Those calling for a change are of the view that the party is likely to be defeated, and the seat could be won by another political party if the current MP is allowed to contest again against the wishes of constituents.

How did the Mpohor constituency get into this quagmire of self-serving and political incorrectness? The NPP in Mpohor as a tradition allows for two terms for its candidates as informally agreed by people in the party.

These agitations are rife, and they are being fueled by the sitting Mp's announcement that he wants to go for a third term, even if others disagree with him.

Few NPP executives doing the bidding of the current member of parliament, also have their reasons for doing so, and it is best known to them, but the "signs on the walls " do not look good for the MP of Mpohor.

This has brought tension amongst the executive body of the party in the constituency, and it is about time steps were taken to make the party a winnable force in the constituency.

This development has made most of the constituency executives come publicly to even campaign for their preferred candidates, which is not good. In fact, this division is gradually getting to its incurable state because it has trickled down to polling station executives, and the party members as well.

It is for these obvious reasons that the NPP's NEC should activate its research mechanism on Mpohor Constituency to ensure the prevalence of peace and sanity amongst executives in the Constituency. The power play and selective judgment have become the order of the day in the constituency, and information trickling in indicates that both the MP and DCE for Mpohor have contributed a lot to this unfortunate development in the constituency.

The Mpohor constituency executives, for instance, are not allowed to do their work as laid down by the party's constitution, and undue interference by these two politicians has been the contributing factor. They always want every decision to favour them, and those who are not enthused, and express their opinions, have been automatically turned into enemies of both the MP and DCE.

This disturbing development, if it is not checked now, will definitely affect the electoral fortunes of the NPP since some party members have already threatened to vote “skirt and blouse” in 2020.

“Mafiarism” has become the strategy in the constituency, and most of the people in the helm of NPP's affairs prevent other people from contributing their quota to the development of the party.

Regional and national executives, as a matter of urgency, must look into these serious issues, which have the tendency to breaking the party apart or rendering it beyond repairs.

The leadership of the party in the Mpohor Constituency should also know that "we have the power to sustain and retain the seat", though selfishness at the party's top hierarchy in the constituency is deep-rooted, a contributing factor in these disturbing circumstances.

Additionally, the hostility must be erased, and everybody must be welcomed on board to build a political dynasty in the constituency. Every contribution cannot be taken for granted, the warning being that the NPP cannot afford to fail the people of Mpohor Constituency due to the selfish interests of some party leaders.

This is why NEC must act quickly to quench this fire destroying the NPP in Mpohor constituency. The party is indeed at the crossroads.