The former President, John Agyekum Kufour has bemoaned what he describes as the heightening increase of factionalism within the New Patriotic Party.
He noted that the situation has led to a sharp decline to the commitment towards the ideals and principles of the liberal democracy that the party cherished when it was formed.
“I don’t sense and feel it like I use to; I have likened such commitment to the party to a religion but now I sense too much of factionalism in the party”.
Former President Kufour
According to the former President, factionalism is one of the key factors that undermines the principles and practices of democracy.
Kufour Admonishes Political Parties To Uphold The Tenet Of Democracy
He admonished that in the selection of party executives within the political parties, either from the national or the grassroots, it is important supporters and officers do away with factions immediately after the contest. He believes the inability of party’s to avoid such instances could derail the practice of democracy.
“When you are selecting polling station executives, constituency executives or national executives you wouldn’t be so divisive and emphasize on factionalism. Oh, he belongs to this so no cooperation. When you do that you divide the numerical forces that we need for democratic practices”.
Former President Kufour
The former President also underscored the importance of election in any democracy and emphasized the need for stakeholders to give level grounds to all participants to eschew excessive rivalry and divisions within the party.
“In democracy there would be contest and rivalry but the whole idea of democracy is to ensure there is a level ground contest and the process is fair. Once the process is over, whether it favors you or not, you have to close ranks and support the winner”.
Former President Kufour
Meanwhile a senior member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, has expressed disappointment in the decision by former Trade Minister Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen to resign from the party.
He indicated that as elders of the party, his likes and that of Mr Kyerematen should guide the youth regarding a continuous commitment to the party.
“Honestly, I find it disappointing because he is an elder of the party and it is the elders who have all these stories to tell, the good, the bad, the worse, disappointments and so on. But in doing so, we urge the youth on that these are going to be challenges but do learn to cope with them and let the party to move forward.”
Prof Ameyaw-Akumfi
He rejected allegations that the party seems to have ignored concerns raised by Mr Kyerematen in the aftermath of the August 26 Super Delegates Conference.
He disclosed that the National Executive Committee (NEC) had referred his petition to the Disciplinary Committee, which was following painstaking steps not only to hear from parties involved but to carve out solutions for the way forward.
“So if at the heat of it, we leave the group, how are we going to get the youth to learn from the good and the bad and this is why I find the action so disappointing.”
Prof Ameyaw-Akumfi
Prof Ameyaw-Akumfi expressed hope that Mr Kyerematen will have a “second thought” about his decision.
The former flagbearer aspirant for New Patriotic Party presidential primaries, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen resigned from the New Patriotic Party on Monday, September 25, 2023, and announced a four-point agenda for his bid to contest the 2024 General Elections as an independent presidential candidate.
Announcing his bid for the presidency on Monday, September 25, 2023, Mr Kyerematen, the former Trades and Industry Minister said to actualize his goal as an independent presidential candidate he will establish and lead a new MOVEMENT FOR CHANGE in Ghana.
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