Tuesday, March 9, 2010

WHITHER ASHANTI NPP?...Alan, Akufo-Addo blamed...Mediators frustrated (LEAD STORY, GRAPHIC NSEMPA, JAN 25, 2010)

By Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi

LITIGATION, rooted in the so-called Alan Kyerematen-Nana Akufo-Addo dichotomy, is gradually tearing the New Patriotic Party (NPP) apart in the Ashanti Region.
One court case comes after another and it appears there is no end in sight for the party.
A Kumasi court had already placed an injunction on the organisation of the regional congress following an application filed by former Asante Akim North Constituency Chairman of the party, Nana Adu Asabere.
Nana Asabere, one of the strong party members in the region, filed the injunction on the grounds that about 13 constituencies had not completed their congresses to warrant holding of the regional congress.
Suspecting that some people wanted to organise the regional congress to gain advantage for a particular interest group in the party, Nana Asabere had sworn never to back out until the right thing was done to ensure that no constituency was disenfranchised in the regional elections.
Even before the injunction placed on the regional congress could be lifted, a party member at Obuasi also obtained another injunction against the organisation of the Obuasi Constituency’s congress.
This is thwarting the efforts of some mediators to resolve the impasse at the regional level to enable the regional congress take place.
For a region which is the strongest base of the main opposition party, the situation paints a gloomy picture for the party’s quest to wrest power from the NDC in 2012.
The NPP won an average of 70 per cent of the votes in the region in previous general elections.
While they are hoping to improve on their previous performance in the 2012 elections, it appears they are only dreaming, due to the nasty developments in the party.
The NDC, seems to be waiting quietly to capitalise on the situation to improve on their performance, come the next presidential and parliamentary elections.
So deep-seated is the division in the Ashanti Region that political discussion about the party has for sometime now been on the two flag-bearer hopefuls in the party.
The incumbent Regional Chairman, Mr Yaw Amankwaa is said to be in the camp of Mr Alan Kyerematen while the former chairman, Mr F.F. Anto, who is seeking to reclaim the chairmanship position during the regional congress is believed to be an Akufo-Addo man.
From the top, it trickles down through the constituency to the ward levels.
Even a Member of Parliament (MP) has come out openly to declare his support for one of the camps.
Mr Kofi Jumah, MP for Asokwa, has stated categorically that he supports Alan and insists there is nothing wrong with declaring his support forAlan.
However, some political commentators have spoken against the MP’s stand saying it would create further divisions in the party.

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