A FOUNDING member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region, Mr George Ayisi-Boateng, has stated that moves by some elements in the party in the region to form a new party is real, and it was important for the leadership of the party to move in quickly to talk to them to drop their intended action.
He said it would be suicidal for anyone to play down the planned formation of a party, saying he had seen the party logo and the draft constitution.
“When word reached me about this party, I personally planted two people in the group and it came out clearly that they were determined to form the party to be known as the United Front Party (UFP),” he said.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr Ayisi-Boateng said the formation of the party at this period could derail the chances of the NPP in winning the 2012 elections and it was important that something was done about it.
According to him, he had started moves to sit some of the names in the proposed party down in a bid to get them to back out of the plan.
However, he said, his moves would need the support of party leadership, stressing that, “We need a united front to prosecute the 2012 elections.”
“Some of the people behind this party are known as business people in Kumasi with the financial clout to get the party going. Many of them are also followers of Mr Alan Kyerematen in the last NPP presidential primary.
“I am happy that Mr Kyerematen has distanced himself from this party but we cannot allow this to stay on the surface, “ he said, pointing out that, “ We must get to the bottom of this issue and prevent the formation of this party.”
The NPP founding member recalled what happened in the 2008 elections when a party formed by Mr Kwabena Agyei alias Bambata, who was a key member of the NPP in the Ashanti Region, broke away to form a new party.
“Some of our people did not take that party serious but I tell you it did a lot of harm to us in 2008,” he said.
Mr Ayisi-Boateng recalled that when Mr Agyei started his moves, he (Ayisi-Boateng) informed President Kufuor about the danger that the party could pose to NPP’s chances.
“At that time President Kufuor tasked former Chief of Staff, Mr Kwadwo Mpiani and presidential spokesman Kwabena Agyapong, to talk to Mr Agyei to drop his plan.
“I recall as a result of that, Mr Agyei was given some timber concessions but after making a lot of money from the concession, he surprisingly went ahead to form the party to contest the 2008 elections and we all know what happened, ” Mr Ayisi-Boateng said.
The NPP founding member pointed out that, every devil has got its followers so no one should think that any political party formed out of the NPP could not threaten the NPP.
He questioned why the Ashanti Region had always been the ground for the formation of breakaway parties within the Busia-Danquah-Dombo tradition.
“The NLM, UNC were all parties that were formed out of our political tradition at the time the main traditional parties needed a united front to prosecute the various elections and it caused defeats to the parties then, “ he said.
Mr Ayisi-Boateng said, “I think we need to give a good image of the region instead of turning it into the epicentre of breakaway parties.”
He stated that it was clear that the NDC was fumbling in government but said the only way the NPP could capitalise on that to win power was to unite behind the presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo.
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