General News of Saturday, 23 August 2014

Source: starrfmonline.com

'I made Kufuor appoint “drunkard” Mpiani' – Ken Agyapong

A maverick NPP Member of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong, has alleged that former Chief of Staff Kwadwo Mpiani was nothing but a drunk until he (Agyapong) lobbied former President John Agyekum Kufuor to make Mpiani part of his administration.

“Some of our leaders are working against the party and Nana Addo. They have vowed not to allow Nana ascend the presidency. Look at Mpiani: who was he until I recommended him to President Kufuor? He was a drunk who had nothing,” the outspoken Legislator alleged on Friday.

Agyapong, who claims Mpiani and three others are plotting to assassinate the party’s two-time presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, has vowed to confront any party elder whose actions can derail the chances of Ghana’s biggest opposition party in the 2016 elections.

The Danquah-Busia tradition has been in the news in recent times over an overhaul that is taking place at its communications directorate. Its General Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong, claims his life has been threatened over the administrative changes he and the Chairman sought to effect.

It all started when he appointed some Deputy Communication Directors and also asked the acting Communication Director, Perry Okudzeto, to go on his accumulated leave.

Some supporters of the opposition party believe the new leadership, led by Paul Afoko, is deliberately targeting party officials who are suspected loyalists of Akufo-Addo.

Commenting on the development on private FM station, Okay, the Assin Central MP, who has declared support for the ex-foreign affairs Minister as far as the party’s presidential primaries are concerned, said the party stands to lose collectively, if senior members who are expected to remain neutral discriminated against some candidates.

Using Mpiani as an example, Agyapong claimed: “He [Mpiani] personally told me he went [into] exile in Togo, today he is insulting me. None of his friends were able to help him, but I stood for him and Kufuor made him Chief of Staff."

“I will not allow him to destroy our party," Agyapong swore.