The New Patriotic Party Youth for Victory 2024, has accused Dr Bawumia and his supporters who have openly declared support for the Vice President’s flagbeareship bid of dividing the party.
Speaking at a press conference today, January 10, 2022, spokesperson for the group, Jerry John Campbell, revealed that supporters of the “desperate Vice President”, were spotted flouting the rules of engagement by wearing “Bawumia branded T-shirts” to the grounds. He spelt out that some of these supporters confided in the group that they were given the “T-shirt and GHC 10” to come and cheer on the Vice President. The party’s youth spokesperson insisted that these supporters flouted the party’s code of conduct with impunity and no action was taken by leaders.
Prior to the recent National Delegates Conference, Mr Campbell explained that a communique was issued by the NPP Headquarters, pointing out clearly what each potential candidate and their supporters should refrain from. He intimated that although some candidates were found complying with these directives others blatantly disregarded the notice.
“Amazingly, as though the Bawumia branded T-shirt was equivalent to accreditation card, all those wearing the printed shirts were granted access to the conference grounds to come and deliberately disturb the peace of Delegates to think for the party… We also saw Bill boards of the Vice President raised by a group calling itself ‘friends of Bawumia’ and our shameless national officers looked on and took no action to bring such nuisance to order”.
Jerry John Campbell
Chronicling similar occurrences, Mr Campbell expressed that a similar situation happened during the celebration of the final Adae Kese Festival, where supporters of Dr. Bawumia displayed placards, t-Shirts and banners of the “so-called Friends of Bawumia”. He expressed that this happened right in front of the General Secretary “John Boadu and Chairman Wuntumi” and at no point did any of them call this action to order either at the event or even after the event.
“This shows a selective application of the code which is not proper for the development of our party… Another issue we sadly observed at the conference is the intentional breach of protocol as a propagandist way of launching Bawumia campaign. Protocol demands the President should be the last dignitary to be seated at such functions, yet for this staged Delegates Conference, the Vice President, who seemed to have forgotten all proper protocols decided to come late to the conference after the President was seated and to disturb the sanctity of same. Up to this time, the leadership of the party has not even coughed about it”.
Jerry John Campbell
Members of parliament campaigning for Dr Bawumia
Touching on some “selfish” individuals who “openly” campaigned for the Vice President, Mr Campbell emphasized that the party’s “top hierarchy” both before and after the National Delegates Conference in Kumasi who declared their support for the Vice President were Members of Parliament. He indicated that the move was led by majority leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu; MP for Karaga, Hon. Amin Anta, who among others have kept on violating the party’s directives by declaring their support for the Vice-President’s flagbearership bid without any “rebuke” from the party’s hierarchy.
“This is not the best for a party that is seeking to break the 8. So far as the party has stopped other potential aspirants from campaigning, such activities shouldn’t be encouraged. It seems it is right for the Vice President and his supporters to flout party rules but other candidates cannot do same. This must stop”.
Jerry John Campbell
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