<<Print>>

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has once again counseled the 2016 flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to unite the Danquah-Busia-Dombo family or forget about winning the November 7 elections.

Obviously rubbishing persistent pronouncements by lackeys of the twice defeated presidential candidate that he will be third time lucky at the polls this time even without the input and support of persons perceived to be working against his bid, Mr Kufuor said the NPP can only win the upcoming election with a united front.

According to the most successful leader of the Danquah-Busia-Dombo fraternity, power will again elude Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP if the party goes into the election in its present fractured state.

Speaking on Accra based Onua Fm, Mr Kufuor said, although Ghanaians in general are calling for change because the National Democratic Congress, in his opinion, has not managed the country so well, he nevertheless, cautioned that if the NPP does not unite, victory would elude the party and that would be a big disappointment to Ghanaians.

The NPP has since early last year snatched the headlines for all the wrong reasons; either bloody clashes at the party’s Asylum Down headquarters, mysterious death of members or a leading member of the party was being suspended.

So far, four kingpins of the party, National Chairman Paul Afoko; General Secretary Kwabena Agyapong; 2nd vice chairman Sammy Crabbe and founding member Dr Charles Wereko Brobbey have all been suspended for allegedly working against Nana Akufo-Addo’s third presidential bid.

Some constituency executives, particularly in the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Western regions have also been suspended for criticizing the suspension of Paul Afoko, Kwabena Agyapong and Sammy Crabbe.

Other leading members like Kwadwo Mpiani, Kwame Piani, Dr Nyaho Tamakloe, Dr Kobina Arthur Kennedy, Dr Richard Anane, Hilda Addo and former President Kufuor himself are among others tagged as anti-Akufo-Addo and have had no peace for some time now.

While many have warned that the wave of suspension was not the best way to resolve issues in a party aiming at victory in the upcoming election, Nana Akufo-Addo and his loyalists have staunchly defended the decision to oust persons tagged as anti-Akufo-Addo, proclaiming that, it was the best way to prepare for victory 2016.

However, former President Kufuor, like many others in the NPP except Nana Akufo-Addo and his linchpins disagree; insisting that unity should be the watch word for the flag bearer of the biggest opposition party.

Reminding his party leaders that “heaven helps those who help themselves,” Mr Kufuor said winning the general elections would not fall like manna; he asserted, adding that the party would have to put in more efforts to attain power.