NPP Expels ‘Afrafranto’ Big Boys

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has expelled some of its members for supporting an independent presidential candidate in next year’s general elections against the official flagbearer of the party.

The dismissed individuals, who are supporters of John Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, who has since formed a movement, are onetime general secretary of the NPP, Nana Ohene Ntow, a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Adenta constituency and former Director of Communications, Yaw Buaben Asamoa.

Others are a former MP for the Madina constituency and ex-Minister for the defunct Zongo Development, Boniface Abubakar Saddique, as well as a communicator and 2020 parliamentary candidate for the Kpone-Katamanso constituency, Hopeson Adorye.

The sacked men, who supported the former Trade and Industry Minister’s bid to contest the NPP’s Super Delegates Conference, have been charged with doing the bidding of Mr. Kyerematen, even when the NPP has a flagbearer for the 2024 election in the person of Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

They have, by their association with the Movement for Change, forfeited their membership of the governing party.

A statement issued by the general secretary of the party, Justin Kodua Frimpong, said, “The leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has taken notice of recent activities of Hopeson Adorye, Yaw Buaben Asamoa, Nana Ohene Ntow and Boniface Abubakar Saddique which includes publicly endorsing the candidature of a person other than the duly elected Presidential Candidate of the Party; His Excellency Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia.”

The statement, dated Monday, November 20, noted that, “In spite of their flagrant breach of the Party’s Constitution, particularly Articles 3(5)(A)(4) and 3(9)(1), the afore-named men still hold themselves out as members of the NPP.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Article 3(5)(A)(4) of the NPP Constitution enjoins all members of the Party to abide by and publicly uphold the decisions of the Party.”

Quoting relevant portions of the NPP’s constitution, the statement said “A Member of the Party, who stands as an independent candidate against the officially elected member of the Party, or who joins or declares his or her support for another Political Party, or for an independent candidate, when the Party has sponsored a candidate in a general or by-election, automatically forfeits his or her membership of the Party.”

In line with these constitutional provisions, the statement noted it is the view of the NPP that “Hopeson Adorye, Nana Ohene Ntow, Boniface Abubakar Saddique and Yaw Buaben Asamoa have AUTOMATICALLY FORFEITED their membership of the Party. They are, therefore, no longer members of the Party.”

“The NPP entreats its members to remain true to their duties as per Article 3(5) of the party Constitution. We further call upon our members to bear in mind that the Party’s focus is to unite its ranks and rally the support of Ghanaians to make history by winning the 2024 general elections.”

Meanwhile, a number of the sacked persons have quickly reacted to their removal from the governing party. Nana Ohene Ntow, in an interview with JoyNews yesterday, said what has been communicated by the general secretary is a step in the right direction.

He said, in as much as the party has the right to trigger the relevant portions of the constitution to expel them, he also has the right to take any decision that is in his interest and that of Ghana.

Hopeson, on the other hand, is yet to comment on the matter but, in an earlier interview, he told journalists, he was still a member of the NPP, but was only supporting the former minister to realize his ambition to become president, even outside the NPP.

He said he, on any day, will vote for Mr. Kyerematen, but will vote for the NPP’s parliamentary candidate.

Mr. Buaben Asamoa has defended their action, saying they have accepted the decision by the party, pledging their commitment is now to Mr. Kyerematen.

Responding to this, in a statement, Buaben Asamoa said, “Though none of the persons mentioned has received a personal copy, we accept our resignation from the NPP and pledge our commitment to Ghana’s success through our support for Alan Kyerematen. We also take this opportunity to respond and set the minds of concerned well-meaning patriots at ease.

“First, our public conduct in unconditionally and with great conviction supporting the highflying independent candidature of Alan Kyerematen for president is against the NPP constitution, which provides for automatic forfeiture of membership under article 3(9)(1). That is incontestable and therefore needs no formal written notice.

“Unfortunately for the Party ‘Leadership,’ the wholesale application of the poorly written article 3(9)(1), may not be serving the interests of the general membership of the Party well. By not differentiating between support for presidential and parliamentary candidates, conduct against a presidential candidate, results in forfeiture of the parliamentary vote as well. This is clearly out of step with the fast  developing political culture of ‘skirt & blouse’, where voters increasingly mix their choice of presidential and parliamentary candidates based on factors other than what the party ‘Leadership’ says.”

While appearing on Citi TV/FM programme ‘The Big Issues’ on November 11, the former MP was designated as an “advisor” to the Alan Kyerematen 2024 Campaign.

Source: Anchorghana.com