General News of Thursday, 12 September 2013

Source: The Enquirer

NPP faction popped champagne after Supreme Court verdict

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is paying the ultimate price for playing the ostrich, when the issue of ‘Agenda 2016’ popped up in their circle just before the December 2012 elections.

The party then doggedly buried its head in the sand and denied categorically that there was no issue of an Agenda 2016.

Interestingly, it was the very people persuading the ‘Agenda 2016’ who hit town before the 2012 elections to deny any such happenings within the NPP.

But today, persons closer to Nana Akufo-Addo and others loyal to his cause are cursing themselves for not looking out for those who were mentioned in the clandestine scheme of affairs, pursuing the Agenda 2016.

The Enquirer newspaper has it that champagne was popped like pure water by the clique September 9, a week after the Supreme Court ruled that President John Mahama was validly elected in December 2012.

The pursuers of the Agenda 2016, The Enquirer gathered, met to hilariously party at the residence of a former minister (name withheld) in the Kufuor Administration.

The said minister is one of the former ministers before court on charges relating to causing financial loss.

In fact, that minister supported a candidate other than Nana Addo in 2007 and 2011, when the NPP was searching for a flagbearer.

Amazingly, most of the NPP chieftaincy who were present at the champagne party are the very people castigating those calling on Nana Akufo-Addo to contest again for 2016.

There are visible cracks within from all over the county that the twice defeat presidential candidate should contest again in 2016.

The tone for such calls was set by no other person than the General Secretary of the party, Mr. Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, immediately after the Supreme Court verdict on the election petition.

Attacks on the General Secretary have not ceased since he made that harmless suggestion.

Astonishingly, those attacking the persons calling on Nana Addo to lead the NPP again, are those who did not support him in 2007 and 2012 during the search for a flagbearer.

It is instructive to know that Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobbey, Mr. Frank Agyekum, spokesperson for former President Kufuor, Nana Ohene Ntow, former General Secretary of the party, Mr. Haruna Esseku, former Chairman of the party, who accused Mr. Kufuor of collecting kickbacks, and Michael Ampong have all attacked Mr. Afriyie over his suggestion, with some claiming his future as General Secretary depended on Nana Addo.

What is shocking is the fact that those attacking the General Secretary are ignoring the point that congress for election of National Executives of the party is done before the search of a flagbearer.

Going by that simple logic, it is rather Nana Addo who stands to gain should persons like Mr. Afriyie, who believes in him, is elected as the General Secretary of the party.