Electoral Area Coordinators and Polling Station Executives of the governing New Patriotic Party in the northern region have given their support to the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu for saying that it is unwise for the Dombo-Busia-Dankwa tradition to present another Akan candidate as flagbearer going into the 2024 general elections.
The group calling itself Concern Electoral Area Coordinators and Polling Station Executives at a news conference Friday (9 April, 2021) said the view of the Suame Member of Parliament has resonated so well with the greater majority of the party, and “we will like to wholeheartedly associate our self with it”.
“The history of our flagbearership position since 1992 has played into the propaganda label of the NPP by our main opponent the NDC as an Akan party” the group added.
The response of the Electoral Area Coordinators and Polling Station Executives come barely 24hours when a group calling itself Concerned Northern Grassroots of the NPP registered their displeasure towards the leader of the majority group in Parliament and described his statement as unguarded.
Consequent to that, the group held the view that Mr. Kyei Mensah Bonsu has shown bad fate and set a very bad precedence and therefore called for his resignation from Parliament.
However, Convener of the Electoral Area Coordinators and Polling Station Executives, Alhassan Inusah indicated their checks has revealed the Concerned Northern Grassroots group is not known to the party at all levels of its structures in the region, adding that, no faithful NPP member or structure would be calling for any Member of Parliament of the party to resign to give an advantage to the opposition National Democratic Congress considering the numerical strength of the party in the 8th Parliament.
He argued that the comments by the NPP lawmaker however makes imperative to showcase to the rest of the country, the truly diversified nature of the NPP tradition and that, the best way to do so is to elect a non-Akan flagbearer for the party going into the 2024 general elections.
He therefore called on all supporters of the NPP to welcome any idea in the party that will promote diversity in the leadership of the party from the perception that the NPP is an Akan political group.
“As Electoral Area Coordinators and Polling Station Executives, we serve as the principal grassroot mobilization force for this party and we know how debilitating the dubious propaganda of our friends in the NDC has been. This has made it increasingly difficult for us at the base level to canvass for votes for our party in non-Akan areas of this country.
In spite of this phenomenon, it should be heartwarming to all and sundry particularly us in this part of the country to welcome a party project that promotes diversified leadership in the party from the assertion that the NPP is an Akan party” he emphasized.
Kyei Mensah Bonsu’s ambition
Meanwhile, Mr. Alhassan Inusah described as laughable claims that the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs is pursuing a Vice Presidential ambition with his recommendation of a non-Akan flagbearer.
“The same Kyei Mensah Bonsu is on record to have said that, to him, it will not be a bad idea for Hon Alan Kyerematen to partner a non-Akan Presidential Candidate of the party, so which running mate slot will the Majority Leader be pursuing again? You see how illogical people get when they allow emotions and selfish interest to cloud their judgement” he queried.
