<<Print>>Behind the famous African Regent Hotel in Accra off the North Airport Road, sits a graying, aging and worried ex-president.
The dignified retirement he had hoped for, has eluded him. The unending mistrusts, infighting, and physical attacks within the party; the New Patriotic Party (NPP), which John Agyekum Kufuor, twice led to victory, is giving him sleepless night, The Herald, gathered.
From his immediate family members, close friends and close political allies, The Herald, discovered that the most successful leader of the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition, openly lament these days that “Evil Has Taken Over NPP” leading the party to destruction.
Mr. Kufuor, whose efforts to resolve the impasse in his party by gathering party boys made up of clergymen, parliamentarians, lawyers, flagbearer, running-mate, party administrators, which was leaked by The Herald last week, is driven him to the point of tears, while expressing his disgust about the unfortunate happenings in the party.
Though, he has not publicly commented on the death of the party’s Upper East Regional Chairman, Adams Mahama, who was acid-bathed to death months ago, ex-President Kufuor, is said to be in severe pains at the extent to which the once vibrant and peaceful NPP, ended up in such violent manner with some members now facing murder trial.
According to the insiders, the ex-president, is also surprised at the violence behaviour exhibited by the party in the just ended by-election held in Talensi in the Upper East Region, which saw the party lost to the NDC.
To him, the formation of the deadly “Invincible Forces” to man the Asylum Down headquarters of the party, bodyguard Nana Akufo-Addo and his Nima residence, as well as the coming into being of the infamous Bolgatanga Bull Dogs (BBD) to protect under fire General Secretary, Kwabena Agyapong, and National Chairman, Paul Afoko, are beyond his imagination.
The situation is said to be affecting the almost 77 year-old politician that, he openly and freely discusses the issue leading to his secret invitation to the top clergymen, some of who are very critical of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Among the pastors were, the General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Pastor Mensa Otabil, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Emmanuel Martey, the Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of the Accra Diocese, Rev. Father Palmer-Buckle, ex-Moderator of the Methodist Church, Most Rev. Asante Ntwi, among others.
They were to pray, mediate and exorcise the evil by uniting the party’s 2016 presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, with National Chairman, Paul Afoko, and General Secretary, Kwabena Agyapong among others including, the Second Vice Chairman, Sammy Crabbe, First Vice Chairman, Freddie Blay, National Treasurer, Kwabena Abankwa, National Organizer, John Buadu, National Youth Organizer, Sammy Awuku.
The ex-president, according to The Herald’s sources is pained by the animosity within members of the party which has made the party very unattractive for the electorates going into the 2016 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
But in spite of the many attempts by the former Ghanaian leader to broker peace, Nana Addo, is said to be adamant, not ready to kowtow to anybody when in fact, he is likely to benefit largely in the event that unity is achieved, as the party gears up for next year’s elections.
In the presence of the top pastors, Nana Addo, is said to have arrogantly walked out of the meeting inside the President Kufuor’s Airport West residence.
Following that botched unity secret meeting, the 71-year old is rumoured to have told his beloved national executives excluding, Kwabena Agyapong, not to attend a Steering Committee Meeting called up by National Chairman Afoko.
Meanwhile, the Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has waded into the assembling of the top pastors, calling on Mr. Kufuor to come out and explain why General Overseer of the Action Chapel International, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, was sidelined in the NPP meeting.
According to him, once the former President invited some highly placed religious leaders in the country in an attempt to resolve the confusion within the party, he expected him to have invited Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams to the meeting. Kwasi Pratt was speaking Thursday on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show with host Captain Smart.
The 2016 flagbearer of NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo, and his running mate, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, were also at the meeting. NPP’s National Chairman, Paul Afoko, General Secretary, Kwabena Agyapong and other leaders of the party were at the meeting aimed at fostering unity in the party.
Though the party and most especially, the spokesperson of Mr. Kufuor, have explained why the above mentioned pastors were invited and not other top pastors, many are still not convinced with the explanation, insisting it was the gathering of top “party boys” to pray and find a way to resurrect an almost dying party.
Aside Archbishop Duncan Wiiliam, questions have been asked as to why for instance the national chief Imam, Sheikh Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, Charles Agyin Asare of the Perez Dome, Dag-Heward Mills of the Light House Chapel International, Royal House Chapel International’s Sam Koranky Ankrah were all not invited.