On this day in 2018, former Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akomea, cited ethnicity as his reason for not contesting for the Vice Chairmanship position in his party.

According to the former Managing Director of the State Transport Company (STC), he refused to contest for the Vice Chairmanship position because he feared that the party could end up electing only Akans as national executives to the neglect of other ethnic groups.

Read the full story originally published on May, 14 2018, on Ghanaweb

Former Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Managing Director of the State Transport Company, (STC) Nana Akomea has said his refusal to pick nomination forms to contest for the Vice Chairmanship position in the party is because of what he terms as the undiversified nature of the national leadership race.

In a Facebook post, he expressed fears that the party could end up electing only Akans as national executives to the neglect of other ethnic groups.

The party in time past has been tagged as an Akan party despite efforts made by its leadership to dissociate itself from the tag.

Nana Akomea who was tipped to run for one of the national positions let down his supporters after he failed to pick his nomination forms, instead of calling for diversification in the party.

Below is the full statement from Nana Akomea:

“In the last couple of months leading up to the NPP national executive elections, l have been accosted by various groups in the NPP to urge me and pledge support for me to contest for one or the other national executive positions. Delegations have come from Ashanti, Eastern and Western regions had come to my office to urge me on. Several WhatsApp groups have been formed by like-minded individuals to promote my contest.

Several individuals and key party leaders have also spoken to me about offering myself a national position.

Research conducted by the Danquah Institute found l was the clear overwhelming favourite for one of the key executive positions.

When nominations opened last week, l declined to pick forms. What is emerging is that this particular election may present the NPP with the most undiversified national leadership, as almost all the elected positions may be filled from the Akan sub-group.

Every effort must be made to ensure that some of these positions have elected members from outside the Akan subgroup.

It is to be part of this effort that l have declined to contest for the Vice Chairmanship position. It is my great hope that the three Vice Chairmanship positions will afford the election of other members from outside the Akan sub-group.

I remain thankful to all the groups and individuals who have looked forward to my contest and who will be disappointed now. I assure them it is for the greater good of the party.

The NPP remains the best political party to take this country to the “promised land”.

God bless us all.