… With Afoko & Agyapong

Contrary to impression being created by fanatics of NPP 2016 flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that his recent call for calm in the ongoing internal wrangling was genuinely done to bring factions in the party together, credible information available to The aL-hAJJ points to the opposite.

Unknown to the many Ghanaians, particularly supporters of the NPP idolizing the twice defeated president candidate, this paper can today report that, but for the resolute position taken by constituency chairmen of the party in the Ashanti region not to endorse the clandestine moves by Nana Akufo-Addo's loyalists to oust Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong under the guise of a no-confident vote, Akufo Addo had no intentions of compromising his position let alone, call for a truce.

Having enjoyed massive support from the Ashanti bloc votes to secure his third term bid to lead the NPP, party sources say, Nana Akufo-Addo was convinced he now has a firm grip of the party under his control and therefore, could manipulate loyalists, spearheaded by the party's regional chairmen, to pass a vote of no confidence on the party’s National Chairman, Paul Afoko and General Secretary, Kwabena Agyapong.

The two most vilified and tormented National officers of the NPP, prior to them being elected at the Tamale congress were labeled anti-Akufo-Addo and accused of being in bed with the ruling National Democratic Congress to frustrate Nana Akufo-Addo’s last attempt at the presidency.
In order to get Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong off his way, and taking advantage of the death of the party’s Upper East regional Chairman, Alhaji Mahama Adams, Nana Akufo-Addo, according to sources, rallied regional chairmen at Bolgatanga, for a possible impeachment of the duo.

Even though the 2016 NPP flag bearer, to a large extend, succeeded in getting other regions to buy into his plan and indeed, went ahead to passed a vote of no confidence on the two beleaguered national executives, the party’s stronghold, Ashanti, and the Brong Ahafo regions defied his 'orders' by standing behind Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong.

In the Brong Ahafo region, 20 executives voted against Nana Akufo-Addo’s decision to oust Paul Afoko and Kwabena Adjepong whilst 17 people yielded to his dictate.

"What forced Nana Addo to back down on his plans was the defiance of the Ashanti constituency chairmen to unanimously kick against his plot, and instead decided to hold 'discussions' with Mr. Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong at a closed door meeting in the region's capital, Kumasi.”

Party sources in the Ashanti region disclosed to The aL-hAJJ that what further angered the chairmen and executives of the party in the Ashanti region was the unprovoked onslaught on former President Kufuor and his former Chief of Staff, Kwadwo Mpaini by Nana Akufo-Addo’s right hand man, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.

The Assin Central Member of Parliament shocked many when he accused former President Kufuor and Kwadwo Mpiani and the two supposed anti-Akufo national executives of being the brain behind the acid attack on Adams Mahama, which led to his death.

Another issue that is said to be eating up the Ashantis, this paper has gathered, is the plot being championed by Nana Akufo-Addo and his henchmen to entrench Akyem dominance in the party by ousting Kwabena Agyepong and other persons including Paul Afoko, perceived to be loyal to the Ashanti sect in the party.

According to reports, Nana Akufo-Addo, who could not stand the threat posed to his presidential ambition with the outright rejection of his wish by Ashanti and Brong Ahafo executives, and their decision to rally round one of their own against the collective decision of other regions, forced him (Nana Addo) to revise his plan against the two beleaguered national officers of the NPP.

Apart from the fear of losing Ashanti bloc votes at next year’s elections, which has immensely contributed to the party’s fortune in all elections coupled with pressures from some youth groups within the NPP for him to stand down, Nana Akufo-Addo is said to have no option than to capitulate.
“Looking at the way executives in the party’s stronghold reacted to the plot to pass a vote of no confidence on Afoko and Agyepong, Nana was scared that if they (the Ashanti executives) should join the crusade for him to resign, it will pose serious challenge to him and even his chances in 2016 so he had to back off and quickly call for a truce,” a party insider told this paper.

As plot to oust Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong, thicken, a group calling itself 'Save NPP' led by one Baah Achemfour launched a crusade to get Nana Akufo-Addo resigned for breeding division in the party.

In order to avoid this calamity befalling him, Nana Akufo-Addo hurriedly called a press conference last Friday at the Asylum Down headquarters of the NPP to call for ceasefire in the melee.

“Because the press conference was to quell threats posed by the Ashanti NPP executives who defy his orders, he could not wait for Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong. Mind you, while the press conference was ongoing, Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong were locked up in meeting with the Ashanti executives. Trust me that press conference saved Nana Akufo-Addo,” another party insider told this paper.