Rumpus In NPP: Atik Calls On Ex-Prez Kufuor To Intervene

As the bickering in the New Patriotic Party which is threatening its cohesion ahead of the November election remains unresolved, General Secretary of the Peoples’ National Convention, Atik Mohammed has made a passionate appeal to former President John Agyekum Kufuor to help douse the tensions in the biggest opposition party.

Highly convinced Mr Kufuor’s intervention is the panacea to the troubles in the NPP; Atik Mohammed said there is an ongoing “cold war” in the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition that can only to be foiled by the former president as the party prepares to contest the upcoming election.

Acknowledging the instrumental role the NPP plays in the country’s political environment, the PNC General Secretary on Accra based Peace Fm’s Kokrokoo programme said, ex-president Kufuor must step in to ensure order in the party.

According to him, the cold war in the NPP comes in the form of "proxy wars" and therefore he believes it is time for the former President and the NPP 2016 flag bearer, Nana Akufo-Addo to join forces together at "resolving their differences..."

"..in the interest of saving his party and to repositioning it well in such a stead that we can fight the fight," Atik Mohammed said, stressing that former President Kufour can help build the NPP to be a strong force.

The PNC General Secretary’s remarks come on the heels of an Accra High Court dismissal of a suit filed by the second National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sammy Crabbe challenging his suspension from the party. The court dismissed the case on "unmeritorious" grounds.

Mr Sammy Crabbe was last year suspended together with National Chairman, Mr Paul Afoko and General Secretary, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong. While the Mr Crabbe was suspended for gross insubordination, Mr Afoko and Kwabena Agyapong were suspended for allegedly working against Nana Akufo-Addo’s 2016 presidential bid.

However, both Mr Crabbe and Afoko have described their suspensions as illegal have since been battling the party in court. But a human rights court in Accra presided by Sir Denies Adjei last week dismissed the suspended second vice chairman’s case.

However, Mr. Crabbe has voed to appeal the judgment and even proceed to the Supreme Court if need be. But, the court is yet to give judgment in the Afoko case.

Following these happenings in a party which is hoping to unseat the governing National Democratic Congress, many, including Mr Afoko have cast doubt about the Nana Akufo-Addo’s success at the polls.

Mr Afoko in a recent interview with Africawatch magazine revealed there has been several attempts to call for a truce in the party by respected persons including, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, but to no avail.

But the PNC’s General Secretary still believes former President Kufuor’s intervention would yield the desired result to draw down the curtain on the raging storm in the biggest opposition party.