Hon. Andy Appiah-Kubi, Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante Akim North, was not happy with the nomination of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, popularly called NAPO, as running mate to Dr. Bawumia for the 2024 general elections. He stated that his hand is too heavy for NAPO to lift. “He cannot hold my hand, so why would I say that I prefer him? He cannot hold my hand.”

He proceeded to add that Napo is not the kind that will be submissive to the grassroots, unite the various organs of the party, and above all, deliver the required votes for victory. “I would want somebody who would be open with the people on the ground, who would be able to deliver the votes, who would submit to the presidency, and who would be important in bringing Parliament closer to the executive. I don’t see that happening in this equation.”

In fact, the parliamentary organ of the NPP was not consulted before appointing NAPO. Again, Appiah-Kubi, in his words, says; “I wouldn’t speak to a majority because we have not been consulted as a caucus for us to state our position. But for me, Appiah-Kubi, you can solicit my view on that. If it were up to me to choose, I wouldn’t choose him. He is not my preference.” His assertions were corroborated by Eugene Boakye Antwi, MP for Subin after the NPP lost.

The day is closed, and Appiah-Kubi has been proven right. NAPO could not deliver the votes, and both Appiah-Kubi and Dr. Bawumia have been crushed. President Mahama was rewarded with a historic victory of 57 percent, with his contender calling for a slowdown in the race. The gap is nearly 1.7 million votes.

Appiah-Kubi, on the other hand, lost to an independent candidate purported to be sponsored by the establishment against him. Ohene Kwame Frimpong, owner of Salt FM in Agogo, has won with 26,926 votes, more than three times Appiah-Kubi’s votes of 8,933. How is it possible for a constituency, notoriously known to stand firm with the NPP both in good and bad times, to reject their parliamentary candidate? Your guess is as good as mine.

NAPO has not visited Asante Akim North to campaign for Appiah-Kubi. In mid-August, he visited Asante Akim Central, Asante Akim South, and Bosome Freho without making a stop at Asante Akim North to put in a word for Appiah-Kubi. Clearly, the NPP preferred the independent candidate to win, and he won.

Truth be told, Andy Appiah-Kubi was a “righteous rebel” but also a coward. He led a group of 98 MPs to demand the sacking of then finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, for pushing the economy into the darkest deep hole. They were later forced to backtrack, with the president calling them unemployed elements seeking to replace Ken Ofori-Atta and others.

Their cowardly backtracking did not stop Nana Addo and Dr. Bawumia from sponsoring candidates against the leading members of the rebel group in the NPP primaries. Subin MP, Eugene Boakye Antwi, lost, but Appiah-Kubi succeeded in the primaries. He went on to lose in the general elections.

When Appiah-Kubi says NAPO cannot raise his hands, he was right. His hands were too heavy for Napo to raise. NAPO and the NPP, in an attempt to crush him, caused a crash for the entire NPP. Dr. Bawumia lost miserably, and it is glory time for Mahama.

Watch Ada MP's brief 'argument' with Speaker over $11m Pwalugu Dam payment below: