General News of Monday, 7 October 2013

Source: The Informer

Angry Kufuor descends on Sir John

The ever-deepening crisis prevailing in the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) does not seem to be ending anytime soon.

At its last week Thursday’s crisis meeting in Accra, former President J. A. Kufuor had to fix a ‘Fatwa’ on the head of the General Secretary of the Party, Mr. Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie.

Mr. Owusu-Afriyie, popularly called ‘Sir John’ has been on the radar of the former President for hitting town with news that the party would definitely have Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as its flagbearer for 2016.

Sources within the meeting told The Informer that, the ex-president has dealt severely with the Chairman of the party, Mr. Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, over recent happenings within the party.

They say Kufuor, who was visibly livid, asked of Sir John; and when he was told that he was not present, the ex-president became disappointed.

The sources have it that the former President was said to have made it clear that the current fighting within the party was sparked by no other person than Sir John. The party, which is expected to hold the next meeting in few days, could not arrive at any clear road map on how to deal with the crisis. It could be recalled that, Sir John, immediately after Supreme Court verdict that affirmed President Mahama’s legitimacy, hit town with the news that the NPP would be all means have Nana Addo as its candidate for 2016.

His stance has since sparked serious controversy within the party, with persons perceived to be anti-Nana Addo going after him.

Then comes the call for early congress, from the party chairman, Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey, that also caused another ‘fire’ yet to be controlled.

The Chairman and his General Secretary have been under serious criticism for failing to give the party the much-cherished victory during the 2012 elections.

There are numerous calls for their heads from party supporters; but they are also trying to clinch to power by calling for the election of a flagbearer earlier than that of national executives.