NDC, NPP Finally ‘Expel’ Political Love-Birds
It appears the beautiful marriage between Chief Hamilton Nixon Biney of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party’s Afia Akoto has greatly cost the political fortunes of the couple.
The duo became officially out of a job after Ms Akoto was dropped as an appointee of President Nana Akufo-Addo last year for reasons not yet known to many.
Interestingly, her husband, who has been the NDC’s deputy National Organizer and aspiring to become the substantive organizer, also sadly lost his bid last Saturday, at the just-ended 10th National Delegates Congress of the party, under curious circumstances.
This development, in the view of gossips, is a confirmation of possible calculated agenda to oust the couple from both government and party activities respectively.
The couple shocked the political space with their marriage some two years ago, but many expressed divergent views, some of which were not flattering, as far as their political future was concerned.
In the NDC, many believe the move by the immediate past deputy national organizer was miscalculated, considering his position and influence in the party, which was heading into election that same year, 2022.
As if by design, barely a year after their union, Ms Akoto lost her job as a deputy chief executive officer (CEO) of Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC).
According to reports, she was sacked by President Akufo-Addo without notice.
As if that was not enough, her husband, Chief Biney, over the weekend, heavily lost his bid to become the substantive national organizer of the NDC. He was beaten by a former deputy youth and sports minister, Joseph Yammin.
Chief Biney, who was one of the first aspirants to launch his campaign for the national organizer position at the Kama Centre in Accra, went into last Saturday’s election with six others, including the incumbent, Joshua Hamidu Akamba, and a former Director of Communications, Solomon Nkansah,
At the end of counting, a former Ashanti Regional Secretary and former Ashanti Regional Minister polled 3,730 votes with his closest contender, Joshua Akamba, trailing behind with 2,035 votes.
Chief Biney came third, polling some 1,173 with a former youth organizer, Sidi Abubakari, Mahdi Mohammed Gibril, Solomon Nkansah and Henry Osei Akoto, following in that order with 607, 535, 302 and 158 respectively.
As it stands, he has no job as a national executive member, and it is unclear if he will be given any major role to play in the NDC’s preparation towards the 2024 general elections, taking into account his involvement with his wife.
Since his defeat last Saturday, not much has been heard from Chief Biney, who is seen as a very affable and moderate politician.
His wife, on the other hand, has refrained from engaging actively in party activities, especially the ones that border on her party.
Even though this paper is aware Ms Akoto has been appointed a member of the NPP’s Communication Committee, she has quietly shifted all her attention to her private businesses, after she opened a grocery shop at Dzorwulu in Accra, and other business interests.
A few weeks ago, the former MASLOC Deputy CEO was accused of shading President Akufo-Addo. Afia Akoto had sought to celebrate former President John Kufuor, who turned 84.
She dedicated her social media page to the former party and Ghanaian leader, but it looked like she unintentionally invited a big problem for herself.
In her attempt to recollect the days of old and the events that heralded Mr. Kufuor’s presidency, Afia Akoto shared words of a popular campaign song by the NPP and the former President.
“We need a man to save mother Ghana. A humble man like J. A. Kufuor, a God fearing man with a vision to save mother Ghana from oppression and suppression. To make Ghana a happy home,” she quoted.
Many had said that the onetime deputy communications director of the NPP was indirectly calling for a God-fearing and humble leader like the former President for Ghana and not the sitting President, Nana Akufo-Addo..
Madam Akoto had begun the celebration of the anniversary on her Facebook timeline, saying “Today, I dedicate my entire wall in celebrating a great man and leader. President JAK. God we thank you for the life of Papa.”
In another post that same day, Afia Akoto shared a photograph of herself and the former President, saying “Live well Live long live healthy Papa, we salute you, we adore you and thank God for knowing you and drinking from your well of wisdom.”
But some people, especially in the NPP, did not take it lightly, one of such being Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, a known social media activist of the NPP and a former Managing Director (MD) of the Accra Digital Centre, who reacted on his own Facebook wall, chiding her fellow party member to be careful of what she says.
Without mentioning her name, Kofi, who is now the CEO of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovative Programme (NEIP), said “Some NPP people comma, you can celebrate Papa Kufuor without throwing shades at other leaders. In future those you are throwing shades at will also become points of reference. It’s always like that.”
After the back and forth, Ms Akoto came back, clarifying issues and denying the allegation against her.
“I, Afia Akoto, will never throw shades at a government I so believe in and worked for and will work again for should God give us life. Let’s stop right there and tell those who don’t know this campaign song how beautiful it was and how we all enjoyed it.
“Can we enjoy the day with the President today and know we only have one party legacy to build on. Please screenshot this as well if you did take the first one to your paymasters. Shame on you all who instead of knowing well, felt there was a need to play mischief,” she posted on her Facebook page.
Source: Anchorghana
