Afoko/Agyapong should step down if Akufo-Addo resigns - Pratt

Kwesi Pratt has rubbished calls by some activists of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that the party's National Chair, Paul Afoko and General Secretary, Kwabena Agyapong must step down in the wake of the death of Mahama Adams, the NPP's Upper East Regional Chairman.

Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo", Kwesi Pratt questioned the logic in the demand for the two leaders to resign from their positions.

According to him, the resignation of Mr. Afoko and the party's Chief Scribe will not bring to an end the escalating internal strife in the NPP.

Kwesi Pratt opined that the two leaders, particularly Kwabena Agyapong, cannot resign over a crime that they apparently did not commit.

“If that is the case, then President Mahama would have resigned a long time ago. Nana Addo would have also resigned a long time ago. President Kufour too would have long resigned. Just because we insult you, you must resign…How do you connect Kwabena Agyapong to this death? So if you cannot connect, why should he resign...?" he queried.

Central, Eastern and Volta Regional executives of the opposition New Patriotic Party passed a vote of no confidence in the party's chairman and General Secretary.

The decision was taken Monday at a meeting held concurrently in all regions.

Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong, have been accused of dividing the party.

The mysterious death of the Upper East Regional chairman of the party Adams Mahama, who was attacked with acid appear to have hastened the demand for the resignation of the two.

Even though the two have not been directly connected to the death of the deceased person, critics cite an altercation between Mahama and the two national executives which led to a botched meeting called by the two national executives in the Upper East Region.

The two were conspicuously missing at the funeral and burial of the late Mahama. What was evident was an army of placard-wielding-youth demanding the resignation of the two embattled leaders.

It appears the call by the youth has forced a meeting of regional party executives to begin impeachment processes against the two personnel. But to Kwesi Pratt, the decision by the NPP leadership will potentially spell doom for the party and affect its fortunes.

“At the end of the day, it will be five regions against five regions. Does this help? Does it help in the resolution of the matter? It doesn’t help. It just worsens the matter," he stressed.

He also slammed the NPP flagbearer Nana Akufo Addo Dankwa for failing to call the Regional Chairmen to order and further address the situation, upon his return to the country.

“Why didn’t he stop them? Why didn’t he tell them that the action they’re taking would cripple the party, so stop? I don’t understand. I don’t understand. Why?” he questioned Nana Addo's inability to restore order in the rank and file of the party.