While it was a well-rehearsed strategy by the beleaguered opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to use the ‘Wↄn Gbo’ demonstration to create disaffection for the John Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, the last Wednesday event ended up deepening the division within the NPP.
Reports reaching The aL-hAJJ indicate that the age long internecine strife within the leadership of the party was in full display as heavyweights yelled at each other over who wielded power to take charge of the demonstration.
Worse of all, supporters of NPP’s 2016 flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, could not shelve their deep-rooted resentment for perennial flag bearer aspirant, Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten, with catcalls.
Information available to this paper has it that there was a ‘fierce battle’ and trading of words between former National Organizer who doubles as an Akufo-Addo protégé, Lord Commey, and General Secretary, Kwabena Agyapong, over who should lead the demonstration.
Although a known apostle of Nana Akufo-Addo, the former National Organizer who went into hibernation soon after the 2008 elections over allegation of misappropriation of campaign funds and logistics will not kowtow to the party general secretary, Mr. Kwabena Agyapong’s dictates in the full glare of Nana AkufoAddo, an incident that nearly turned nasty.
Flamboyant Lord Commey, who had wanted to take advantage of the demonstration to reclaim his rightful position as cheer-leader of the NPP, attempted to take control of the event but was swiftly checkmated by Mr. Agyapong, who yelled at him in the full glare of the flag bearer and other party big shots to go stand behind the dignitaries.
Party insiders revealed the NPP General Secretary’s actions seemed not to have gone down well with the former National Organizer who was said to have similarly retorted “I have an equal stake in this party nobody can stop me.”
While Lord Commey thought the many Nana Akufo-Addo supporters who witnessed the altercation would support him against Kwabena Agyapong, who is suspected to be working against the flag bearer, the former National Organizer was in for a shocker.
It was a jaw-dropping experience for Lord Commey when nobody intervened on his behalf as loyalists of Kwabena Agyapong barked at him and told him in the face that ‘he had gone to sleep and now he is coming back to throw his weight around.’
Some of them were heard telling Lord Commey “Wada afeina wanyeni" to wit “you’ve gone to sleep, now you are awake?” This was said to have infuriated Lord Commey who was said to have also vowed to get Kwabena Agyapong’s hands off any program relating to Nana Akufo-Addo.
Aside Lord Commey, Nana Akufo-Addo’s internal archrival, Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten, was also not spared.
Hordes of the former Abuakwa South legislator’s supporters, according to an eye witness, mocked Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten for attempting to cash on the Wongbo demonstration to hobnob with the grassroots, something they claim he abandoned since his first defeat to Nana Addo in the 2007 flag bearer contest.
The common refrain on the lips of many of them was “no more WTO anaa…? Now he wants to be seen as local man trying to impress the grassroots?”
Critics of Mr Kyeremanten have often chastised him for abandoning the NPP in 2012 at a time his services were needed most to go chasing the post of Director General of the World Trade Organization, which he lost out to Brazilian born diplomat, Roberto Azevedo.
Reports are that pro-Alan elements have sworn not to forgive Nana Akufo-Addo and his supporters for disgracing their ‘man’ at an event that was targeted at the real ‘enemy’, the NDC government.
The stage is therefore set for dangerous political gambit and strife within the NPP to fester as the country inches towards the 2016 elections.
None of the feuding factions in the main opposition is ready to make any sacrifice for the party as it is making another attempt at taking over the mantle of leadership of the country.
Observers are of fervent conviction that should these disagreements escalates or even remain unresolved, there is no way the party could organize an effective campaign for power next year.
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