NPP Forces Sabotaging My Work

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, has for the first time given reasons for his recent silence in the news, saying that there are people within his own party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who are sabotaging and thwarting his work, because he is becoming “too powerful.”

Though he failed to mention names, hesaid the saboteurs saw him as becoming a powerful regional minister because of the forceful manner he was carrying out his official duties and, therefore, they wanted his “wings clipped.”

Mr. Quartey, who was speaking on Accra-based Peace FM ‘Kokrokoo’ programme yesterday, Monday February 13, monitored by The Anchor,said his critics were concerned that if he was allowed to continue on that drive, they would lose their daily bread and the NPP wouldalso lose more votes in the region.

He told the host, “These are individuals who feel that no, this guy, let’s inject him small, but I am not deterred.”

When pushed by the host, KwamiSefaKayi, to mention the names of his alleged saboteurs, the minister said in Twi, “They know themselves. The issues are many. Somewhere last year if you were driving from Circle, within 5 to 10 minutes, you will be at UTC. It was so beautiful. But some people went badmouthing me to the traders to go back and sell on the streets.”

He stated that, even though there are still issues, he will not spill the beans yet, since he is unfazed about these internal oppositions, because he is committed to his work and so will not be deterred.

“Historically, this is not new, as, in the past, mayors of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) have suffered similar internal oppositions,” he pointed out.

A typical example, he said, was the now Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ablekuma South constituency, Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, who had issues with some executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Mr.Quartey said these persons within the NPP, whom he refrained from mentioning their names, had started their shenanigans by encouraging the traders he hassuccessfully managed to evictto return to the streets.

He told the host, “Some people think that if the traders leave the streets, what they are gaining privately would be denied and so Henry Quartey is disturbing. Others also think that Henry Quartey is becoming too powerful why? So, let’s clip him.”

He distanced President Akufo-Addo, the Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the Presidency, from his seeming absence from the public space.

He said it is untrue claims that the President prevailed on him to step back on some of this his activities aimed at bringing discipline to the region because they were making the government and the party unpopular.

“I have not given up. I have issues, but I want to be clear on this. I have heard people say President says this. I want to state here and now, the President has never on any day said that Henry stop what you are doing.

The Vice President has not. Office of the President has not but I will say that there is an internal sabotage from my own party and that is what has led as to where we are,” he said.

He added, “They have not. In fact, they are happy with what we are doing but, internally, some people are sabotaging the work of Henry Quartey. I wonder it is for the work of the people of this country or it is for their own selfish interest.”

He insisted, “So, it’s not about the President, it is not about the NPP party that the party feels that the way Henry Quartey is working it will affect our votes. No!”

He said the views expressed by his critics that the NPP will lose votes in the next election because of his activities in the region was simply untenable. Mr. Quartey enjoined all to always put the interest of the country first.

While keeping a lot of the information to his chest, the minister went biblical, and quoting a verse in the Bible, alerted that “there will come a time everything will come to light.”

He said, “Days ago, I heard that some people died on the Motorway. I felt so sad. What I asked was that those who said my work can take us to opposition, now that these individuals are dead, where are they to vote?

Can we put our personal interests aside and think about Ghana first? After all, that is what our President is fighting for. If we get to that stage and say oh this is good for all of us then it will work. This is a public place. Ecclesiastics Chapter 3 says “there is time for everything.” “One day, one day the cock will crow.”

The Member of Parliament (MP) Ayawaso Central constituency, who has been on the spotlight of the current administration, has often been praised for his campaign to rid the city of indiscipline, especially in the business district.

He is credited with a number of initiatives, since succeeding the late Ishmael Ashietey in 2021.

He initiated the “Let’s Make Accra Work” campaign, with a view to helping to bring discipline and sanity to the region. Mr.Quartey has been praised and attacked at the same time for demolishing certain unauthorized structures in some areas in the capital.

The minister has also cleared some major streets of hawkers, among others, and also taken on individuals, who had built on Ramsar sites.

Mr. Quartey is the only Greater Accra Regional Minister to have successfully evicted the Onion sellers from Agbogbloshie to AdjinKotoku,on the outskirts of the city, after initial opposition and threats on his life.

He also introduced the “Operation Clean Your Frontage” campaign, aimed at forcing people living in Accra to keep their environs clean.

Source: Anchorghana