[ 2015-05-27 ]

Kufuor must intervene to save NPP – Sam Okudzeto
An elder of the opposition New Patriotic Party
(NPP), Sam Okudzeto, says an urgent intervention
by former president John Agyekum Kufuor has become
necessary to pull the NPP from the brink.

“He must step in to get the parties together,
get the factions together and calm them down,”
Mr. Okudzeto said.

The opposition party has been in turmoil since the
death of the Upper East Regional Chairman, Adams
Mahama.

Mr. Mahama was doused with acid by some unknown
assailants Wednesday night.

He died Thursday morning and was buried Saturday
afternoon in accordance with his Islamic
tradition.

Adams Mahama’s death has provoked anger in the
party with large numbers demanding that the
National Chairman and General Secretary step
aside.

Messrs Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong have been
roundly condemned and accused of undermining the
party’s chances of winning next year’s
elections.

A brother of the Chairman, Gregory Afoko is
standing trial for his alleged involvement in the
acid attack on the late chairman.

Whilst the two leaders have not been directly
linked to the incident, the regional caucuses of
the party believe when they came into office, Mr.
Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong have consistently
created disharmony and division in the party.

The two are said to be engineering the defeat of
NPP flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, in the 2016
presidential poll to pave way for them to present
their preferred candidate in the 2020 elections.

Seven regional caucuses have unanimously appealed
to the National Council, the National Executive
Committee and the National Council of Elders to
prevail on the two national leaders to step
aside.

They say this is in the interest of the party.

Paul Afoko hasn't spoken but Kwabena Agyepong
Tuesday said he will never step aside, accusing
the regional caucuses of acting lawlessly.

Mr Okudzeto said the beleaguered General Secretary
ought to have tamed his anger and refrained from
making those comments.

He said there is need for peace and sobriety to
prevail.

"I think there is too much excitement going on and
people are losing their heads; what we need now is
calm and cool heads so that things can be sorted
out; storms do come but when a storm comes, the
important thing for us to appreciate is that we
need to calm the waters otherwise people can get
drowned very easily; in fact many can get drowned
in the process and the party can destroy itself,"
he observed.

The legal luminary said he would have preferred a
dialogue to get the two leaders to step down
instead of the public petitions that have been
issued.

One problem plaguing the opposition party now, he
argued, is that "everybody seems to be so clever
and so smart and everybody is talking and to me it
is a destructive force that is at work and I think
it is time for coolheadedness."

Source - Joy News

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