A bitter row has erupted within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) after Nana Ayew Afriyie, Member of Parliament for Effiduase/Asokore, launched a devastating broadside against the party’s leadership. Mr. Afriyie’s explosive outburst has exposed deep-seated divisions and resentment within the party.
In a withering critique, Ayew Afriyie accused the NPP’s top brass – including the MP for Asokwa, Madam Patricia Appiagyei, General Secretary Justin Frimpong Kodua, and National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye – of callously “selling out” the Ashanti Region, the party’s traditional stronghold, for just a deputy minority leader position.
According to Afriyie, the Ashanti Region, despite its significant contributions to the party, has been denied key leadership positions. He questioned the value of the region being relegated to mere deputy minority leader, citing the lack of representation on critical issues and leadership in parliamentary business.
“No one should be happy about the enormity of betrayal to Ashanti by some selfish few of us and the selling of strength and rightful position in leadership to other regional caucuses,” Afriyie stated.
In a strongly-worded statement, Afriyie singled out Patricia Appiagyei, saying, “You are very selfish and a big betrayal to the Ashanti caucus and council. It’s all about you and not what we all stand for.”
Excerpts of a WhatsApp chat intercepted by GHOne News Ashanti regional correspondent Isaac Justice Bediako on the Ashanti NPP Members of Parliament page, with the group name ‘Official MPs and PCs Platform’, read:
“Mama Pat, you are very selfish and a big betrayal to the Ashanti caucus and council. It’s all about you and not what we all stand for. In 2008, when we lost the elections, Ashanti came together and took the minority. Today, you, Koduah, and Nana B have sold us, the region with the largest caucus, for just a deputy leader.”
He also questioned Appiagyei’s role in the caucus meeting, saying, “Why didn’t you argue for the leader so it would have brought the matter to rest? You sat in until a determination of what we wanted was established.”
The MP expressed his disappointment and frustration with the party’s decision-making process, which he believes has led to the marginalization of the Ashanti Region. Afriyie lamented the lack of representation of the Ashanti Region in key leadership positions.
“So far, our toil and suffering have not made Ashanti fit for a leader or Chief Whip. What is our value then, for being relegated to just a deputy minority leader?” he questioned.
He again lambasted Asokwa MP Patricia Appiagyei for accepting the deputy minority leader position.
“You have never spoken on any issue from this position on the floor, nor have you led any business. This is a shameful role for a distinguished group like ours,” Afriyie charged.
Afriyie’s comments also alluded to a perceived betrayal of former Majority Leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, implying that he suffered a “coup d’etat” at the hands of Majority Leader Afenyo Markin, General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
“I thought Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu suffered a coup d’etat in the hands of Afenyo, Koduah, and President Akufo-Addo, and this was the time to correct it,” he said.
Afriyie criticized the party’s leadership for ignoring the interests of the Ashanti Region, citing the example of the National Council meeting where the region’s numbers were deemed insignificant. He alleged that the Greater Accra group was favored over the Ashanti group in the allocation of leadership positions.
“In the National Council yesterday, they said our numbers don’t matter, while all those who wanted us for deputy. Yet, when it came to the 2nd deputy whip, the Greater Accra group, led by Lord Commey and Prince (their organizer), shouted ‘Greater Accra, Greater Accra,’ and Jerry Ahmed, a new entrant, was given the position. Why not Mavis Nkansah Boadu? This was our position!”
The MP warned that the party’s actions would have consequences, stating, “We shall live to regret this sell-out and needless trade-off!”
Ayew Afriyie expressed concern and wondered what wrongs the people of Ashanti Region had committed against outgoing President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and what he termed the ‘Akyem Mafias.’
“What really are the sins of Ashanti in the hands of Akufo-Addo and the Akyem mafias? Total suppression of Ashanti,” Afriyie noted.
Ayew Afriyie pleaded that the Ashanti Region will no longer compromise its rightful position, unity, and strength for inferior gains.
“Never again should we, as a caucus, trade off our rightful position for lower bargains!” he declared.
The MP lamented the region’s poor development and business prospects, attributing them to the caucus’s willingness to settle for less.
“We have suffered enough: poor development, businesses, etc. We needed not to have sold our value for such a lower bargain,” Afriyie emphasized.
Background
The incoming opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has released the list of its leaders for Ghana’s next Parliament. According to the list, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who previously served as Majority Leader, will now take on the role of Minority Leader. Patricia Appiagyei, the Member of Parliament for Asokwa Constituency in the Ashanti Region, has been appointed Deputy Minority Leader, while Frank Annoh-Dompreh, MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, will retain his position as Minority Chief Whip.
Other appointments include Habib Iddrisu as 1st Deputy Minority Whip, while the Second Deputy Whip went to the new MP-elect for Weija Gbawe, Jerry Ahmed Shaib. The only new person in the NPP caucus leadership is Davis Ansah Opoku, who replaces the outgoing 2nd Deputy Whip, Alex Tetteh, who lost his seat.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Isaac Justice Bediako
