The Flagbearer of the Opposition New Patriotic Party has vehemently rejected criticism that he has failed to unite the NPP.
Nana Akufo-Addo was addressing thousands of party delegates at the Extraordinary Delegates’ Conference of the party in Sunyani, Saturday.
“I reject outright the malicious refrain that has been put about that there are people within the NPP that I cannot work with,” he stated.
The party has suspended two of its top executives within months as a result of some infighting. It is believed that there are two factions within the party; with one part supporting the flagbearer and the other side working to ensure his defeat to prepare the grounds for their preferred candidate in 2020.
Mr Paul Afoko, the party’s elected National Chairman was suspended indefinitely by a unanimous decision by the National Executive Committee of the party in October.
His suspension according to the party became necessary because of his failure to honour several invitations by its Disciplinary Committee. The Chairman has been challenging the decision since.
According to him, the processes that led to his suspension are unconstitutional. A case he filed in court against the party over his suspension is yet to be heard.
On 10th December, Kwabena Agyapong, General Secretary of the party and Sammy Crabbe, who was the 2nd Vice Chairman were suspended indefinitely, too. This came after some NPP members filed a petition against the two for undermining the party’s authority.
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has come under attack by supporters of the suspended Chairmen and the General Secretary for not being able to resolve issues within the party.
But speaking at the Conference, Nana Akufo-Addo said the claims the suspensions resulted from his determination not to work with the three were baseless.
“I am saddened that the party has had to resort to suspensions, but I am fortified that our party structures have been shown to work. They have demonstrated that, indeed, the rule of law works in the NPP and that nobody, including myself, is above the Party or its laws. And that is how it should be,” he emphasized.
He said he is ready to work with everybody who shares the goal of helping the NPP win power come 2016.
“I do not expect and do not accept that party members would do anything to jeopardize the goal we have set ourselves of winning the 2016 elections. I can work with everybody who shares this goal,” Nana Addo added.
The Flagbearer rallied all party members, saying “the time has come for us to turn our united and concerted attention to the business of winning the 2016 election.”
