The Founder and President of Concerned Voters Movement (CVM), Razak Kojo Opoku has replied the NPP's former General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie popularly known as Sir John that NPP is not an autocratic political party in Ghana.

This comes at the back of comments made by the former General Secretary of the party Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie where he said: "apart from Veep Dr. Bawumia, any member of the Party who has the ambition of becoming Flagbearer after Akufo-Addo's 8-year reign should jettison that aspiration."

In a statement signed by the CVM boss and copied to the media indicated "It is very important to point out to Sir John that, the New Patriotic Party is not an autocratic and self-imposition Political Party.

He added that "NPP is a democratic Political Party with the tradition of long term commitment, loyalty and dedication".

The statement urged Sir John to learn how to talk in public as a matured politician.

The statement also said Sir John's comment has a tendency to divide the NPP party.

"Sir John must learn how to talk especially in public as a matured politician. It is too early to bring this automatic Bawumia's agenda. If other Party's Members of good standing start similar agendas, it will divide the Party's front and subsequently affect Victory 2020 for President Akufo-Addo and the NPP", the statement said.

The statement added that "Between now and 2023, any agenda apart from Akufo-Addo's Victory 2020 is useless, premature and unprofitable. Sir John personal opinion is the beginning of internal chaos".

The statement advised that "Anyone with the ambition of succeeding President Akufo-Addo in 2024 must work hard for it. It shall never be automatic for anyone. The Flagbearership is not a throne to have an automatic successor".

Below is the full statement

NO AUTOMATIC REPLACEMENT FOR AKUFO-ADDO - CVM REPLY SIR JOHN

According to the opinion of the former General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie aka Sir John, "apart from Veep Dr. Bawumia, any member of the Party who has the ambition of becoming Flagbearer after Akufo-Addo's 8-year reign should jettison that aspiration."

It is very important to point out to Sir John that, the New Patriotic Party is not an autocratic and self-imposition Political Party. NPP is a democratic Political Party with the tradition of long term commitment, loyalty and dedication.

Sir John must learn how to talk especially in public as a matured politician. It is too early to bring this automatic Bawumia's agenda. If other Party's Members of good standing start similar agendas, it will divide the Party's front and subsequently affect Victory 2020 for President Akufo-Addo and the NPP.

Between now and 2023, any agenda apart from Akufo-Addo's Victory 2020 is useless, premature and unprofitable. Sir John personal opinion is the beginning of internal chaos.

Anyone with the ambition of succeeding President Akufo-Addo in 2024 must work hard for it. It shall never be automatic for anyone. The Flagbearership is not a throne to have an automatic successor.

If we go by Sir John's opinion, then Aliu Mahama would have been the Party's candidate for the 2008 General Elections, automatically succeeding John Kufuor to represent Dombo. But the Party delegates gave the mandate to President Akufo-Addo based on merit considering Akufo-Addo's huge and outstanding contributions to the Party, right through leading the formation of the Danquah-Busia Club to becoming the first National Organizer of the Party, patiently and respectfully serving underJohn Kufuor for seven years before finally becoming the flagbearer of the Party.

Akufo-Addo became Flagbearer of the NPP and subsequently as President of Ghana not because he is the protégé of Danquah but based on several years of commitment and selfless service.

John Kufuor became Flagbearer of the NPP and President of Ghana not because he was protégé of Busia but he seriously worked for it, achieving it on merit.

Through Danquah's efforts, Eastern is now the stronghold of the Party's tradition. Busia's efforts too has produced Ashanti, Ahafo and Bono as the strongholds of the tradition.

But the Northern Regions are still not the stronghold of the tradition even though Dombo is their illustrious son.

Sir John and others with similar interests should cease their ambition until 2023/2024.

For now, all the energies of the Party should be on ensuring that we consolidate our gains with emphatic and unprecedented Victory for President Akufo-Addo and NPP in 2020. Apart from this agenda, any ambition or interest is totally useless and irrelevant for now.

Any Appointee or member with the interest of succeeding Akufo-Addo in 2024 should endeavour to work hard towards the successful 8-year reign of President Akufo-Addo.

The performance and selfless service of appointees and Party members would largely determine who succeed Akufo-Addo in 2024, it shall never be automatic for anyone.

Signed!

Razak Kojo Opoku

(CVM Founder and President)