Former president John Agyekum Kufuor has debunked suggestions that his reported fondness for the current Trade and Industry Minister Alan Kyerematen triggered the perceived factionalism in the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Admitting of being aware of the widely publicised rumour, he stressed that he has never been factional. For years, it was rumoured that the NPP, a party dominated by the Akans was starkly divided between the Ashantis (the Kufuor gate) and the Akyems (Akufo-Addo).
According to some political watchers, this led to the suspension of the chairman and General Secretary of the party, Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong respectively ahead of the 2016 election because they were perceived to be from the Alan Kyeremanten/Kufuor faction.
Speaking Wednesday on Starr Chat, the man referred to by many as ‘Gentle Giant’ argued if he were to be factional he would not cogitate including non-NPPs into his government.
“So if I will stretch-out to bring in people from the other side of the political divide into my government, why would I divide my own team?” he quizzed.
He added, “I always try to keep an open mind about things. Everybody have their part to play and I don’t allow my… personal emotions to get in the path of…especially with government.”
He said his liking for Mr. Kyerematen is a special thing, stressing “I don’t allow my emotions to get into say part of policy and governance and if you do that it will be at your own disadvantage.”
On the suspension of Mr. Afoko and Mr. Agyepong, former president Kufuor disclosed that he was against the suspension.
The two leading executives were suspended by the elephant family a few months to the 2016 elections over acts the party described as inimical to their political fortunes.
Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM
