Some aggrieved members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Fomena constituency in the Ashanti region, are up in arms against their national executives over what they say is a clever attempt underway to impose the current independent MP for the constituency, Andrews Amoako Asiamah, on the party in the 2024 elections.
The ongoing attempt to impose Asiamah, according to the aggrieved members, is what they believe has culminated in the suspension of internal party elections in Fomena constituency.
Addressing a press conference in Fomena, spokesperson for the aggrieved members and youth organiser hopeful for the Fomena constituency, Michael Ankapong, said per Article 3(9)(2) of the NPP’s Constitution, upon forfeiture of membership, which Asiamah and his close associates did in November 2020, such persons may reapply for membership of the party and may be readmitted on conditions stipulated in the Constitution.
Asiamah NPP membership
In this regard, the aggrieved members note that “to the best of our knowledge, we are not aware of any reapplication for membership of our great party on the part of Honourable Asiamah or any of his close associates”.
“We are also aware of attempts by some NPP Members of Parliament of nearby constituencies, including the Honourable Joe Osei-Wusu of Bekwai, who has been an Independent MP himself in the past and Honourable Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, the MP for Suame and Majority Leader, to reconcile honourable Asiamah and his close associates with the NPP party leadership in the Fomena constituency, ostensibly to pave the way Asiamah’s return to the party and ultimately gaining control of the party in Fomena” the spokesperson said.
Party constitution
In spite of these reconciliation attempts, the group says the “party’s constitution, which is its supreme law, must be adhered to by all party members” including the national executives.
“It is for this reason that we find it quite strange and absurd that elements within the party hierarchy at the national level are trying hard to circumvent the laid down provisions of the Constitution, in relation to Honourable Asiamah and his close associates, who abandoned the party in 2020 to pursue their own parochial interests, for which they succeeded” the spokesperson Michael Ankapong said.
“It is clear for any keen follower of NPP politics to see that the suspension of the internal party elections in Fomena Constituency is to prepare the grounds for the imposition of Honourable Asiamah on the party in the 2024 parliamentary elections” he continued.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to clearly state that we will resist any attempt to impose Honourable Asiamah on the party, either covertly or overtly” Ankapong added.
NPP indebted
The group in their statement also rejected the assertion that the NPP is somehow indebted to the Fomena MP “due to the fact that he decided to do business with the NPP group in Parliament, thus giving the NPP a working majority in the 8th Parliament.
“How can the party be indebted to someone who went against the Party’s constitution and failed to heed the advice of no mean a person than his Excellency the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to drop his independent MP ambition?” the group questioned.
In light of the foregoing, the aggrieved members at the media engagement demanded “transparency and accountability from the leadership of the party, especially at the national level, but also at the regional and constituency levels”, concerning the Fomena constituency and “the role of honourable Asiamah in party matters”, since he is constitutionally no longer a member of the NPP.
Written response
Additionally, they requested of the national leadership of the NPP to furnish them with responses to three questions within one week failing which, they will “embark on a peaceful demonstration against the party” throughout the Fomena constituency to “demand transparency and accountability and for the right thing to be done”.
First, the group wants “a formal written explanation from the National Executives of the NPP as to why internal party elections in Fomena constituency have been suspended”.
Second, “a formal written communication from the National Executives of the NPP of the purported decision to impose Honourable Andrews Amoako Asiamah as an unopposed candidate on Fomena NPP in the 2024 elections, even though he is not a member of the NPP in light of Article 3(9)(1) of the party’s constitution”.
Lastly, “a formal written communication of the purported decision to allow honourable Andrews Amoako Asiamah’s close associates and supporters, all of whom are not members of the NPP in accordance with Article 3(9)(1) of the party’s constitution, to contest in the internal party elections in Fomena”.
Below is the press statement
Stop trying to Impose Independent MP on NPP Fomena Constituency for 2024 Elections
Wilberforce Asare
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