Quietness In NPP Akin To Peace Of The Cemetery - Dr Adu Gyamfi

A political Science lecturer at the History and Political Science Department of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Dr Samuel Adu Gyamfi, has downplayed claims by some members of the New Patriotic Party that the seemingly peace currently prevailing in the party has vindicated recent purging of some its members.

While party members holding this view believe the present relative quietness in the party also means the biggest opposition party has surmounted the bickering and internecine infighting that has engulfed the party for some time now, threatening its cohesion, Dr Adu Gyamfi disagrees.

According to the KNUST lecturer, it will be delusional for anybody to conclude that current relative calm in the NPP means that factions in the party have shelved their interest in pursuit of unity to wrestle power from the ruling National Democratic Congress.

Dr Adu-Gyamfi noted that until the NPP addresses all the sentiments lurking in the background within the party, it will have a lot to contend with ahead of the November polls, adding that if the issues remain unresolved, the 2016 flag bearer of the NPP, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will have unfavorable circumstances in the party on whose ticket he hopes to ride to power.

Speaking on Accra based Kasapa Fm last week, the respected political Science lecturer noted, “We shouldn’t think that people will go to sleep and within a brink of a moment forget all their emotions and the ill-feelings brought about by the subversion of the suspended national chairman. The fact that people have grudgingly accepted quietness to prevail doesn’t mean all is well. The NPP must build the bridges to restore unity in the party.”

He said the posturing of some leading members of the party among them, former Chief of Staff, Kwadwo Mpiani; MP for Nhyieso, Dr Richard Anane, suspended 2nd vice chairman, Sammy Crabbe that, Paul Afoko is still the chairman despite his indefinite suspension by the party fuel suspicion that all is not well within the main opposition party.

Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, after escorting Mr Afoko to court to battle the NPP over his suspension, in a recent interview on Starr Fm forcefully stated that he still recognizes the business-magnate as National Chairman of the party.

According to the hitherto influential former chief of staff, he does not recognize the sanctions against Afoko, whom he described as “a fine gentleman.” “He is still the chairman… The party was wrong. Let’s go beyond Afoko…” he added.
Mr Kwadwo Mpiani’s assertion strikes chord with sentiments similarly expressed by former Roads Minister, Dr Richard Anane who has also insisted that the party erred in suspending Paul Afoko, “I do believe Afoko should not have been out of his position in the first place…so, far as I’m concerned, he should be working.”

Equally, former Greater Accra regional chairman of the NPP and suspended 2nd vice chairman, Sammy Crabbe, has also been consistent with his claim that Paul Afoko remains the party’s legitimately elected National Chairman.

Reacting to a recent designation of Paul Afoko as suspended National Chairman, Mr. Crabbe angrily retorted “let me correct you, he is not a suspended chairman. They have done an illegality, that is why we are here, so, I think you should be correcting that otherwise you will give credence to this illegality and this coup d’état that some primitive minded people in the party are trying to perpetrate.”

Mr Afoko himself has time and again stated that he is still recognized as Chairman by majority of NPP executives, despite the fact that he has been stripped of his position.

“All the regions, polling station executives, constituency executives, regional executives are constantly interacting with me,” he revealed.

According to him, some of these executives run to him for counsel whenever they have issues within the party at their various levels.

“They call me chairman and even lay their problems before me and we discuss them too, and all I tell them is that we should just pray for the court to give us justice and the rest will follow. Once we get justice the rest will follow,” he added.