Commenting on the departure of some supporters who switched allegiance to the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Courage Nobi, Communications Director of the Movement for Change (MFC), has noted the MFC had anticipated that some of its supporters would break away from the party from the very beginning.
He indicated that whereas the MFC agrees that politics is a game of numbers, “weaklings” do not add much to it, stating that those who left the movement were a drawback to the goals of the movement.
He remarked that even though Alfred Kumi and his group have left, the MFC’s support base is increasing. He stressed that other political entities are also showing interest in joining and contributing to Mr. Alan Kyerematen’s vision for the country.
“Trying to unseat an establishment that has taken center stage of Ghana’s politics in the entire Fourth Republic for 32 years is not something that you can do with weaklings. We have been aware of the attempts to bribe back some of our people into the folds of the NPP and we’ve been monitoring it closely…close to three months now”.
Courage Nobi
Furthermore, Mr. Nobi disputes Mr. Kumi’s claims that 6000 people have left the movement with him and notes that his reasons for leaving are baseless.
Remarking on the issue, the Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande, noted that the NPP’s actions are completely normal in any viable political environment.
He emphasized that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is acting like any other superpower that suppresses any attempt to break away from the party.
He recalled a similar situation in the NDC where the National Democratic Party (NDP) broke away from the party and he asserted that such situations would continue to occur.
He alleged that the actions of Alfred Kumi indicate that he (Alfred) had a meeting with the NPP prior to the announcement of his departure from the MFC.
According to him, Mr. Kumi’s behavior suggests that he is a businessman and not a political activist. “We all know that the fundamental characteristic of business people is [maintaining] business”, he added.
Departure Not Damaging
Mr. Gbande clarified that the MFC is now an alliance of various political groups forming the ARC and no longer a breakaway faction of the NPP. He emphasized that the current situation may not have any damaging effect on the coalition.
He noted Alan Kyerematen, leader of the MFC, is more experienced and accomplished, politically, than Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, NPP flagbearer. He alleged that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was chosen due to the support he enjoys from the President.
“Everything Bawumia is doing, President Akufo-Addo is behind the shadows… Dr. Bawumia’s political ambition now is an extension of Akufo-Addo’s Presidential ambition… In terms of credibility and integrity, if you put Abu Sakara and Dr. Bawumia, I will go for Abu Sakara”
Mustapha Gbande
Meanwhile, Mr. Haruna Mohammed, Deputy National General Secretary of the NPP, stated that Alfred Kumi and his group rejoining the NPP is good news as politics is a numbers game.
He mentioned that the group has not yet engaged with the leadership of the NPP to determine if they will be readmitted to the party.
Although he recognized that according to the NPP’s constitution, a member who defects is no longer considered a member, he also stated that the constitution contains a clause allowing for the readmission of members who have defected and want to return to the party.
Mr. Haruna mentioned that although he is a member of the party, he is not directly responsible for managing the party’s interactions with the particular group in question. Therefore, he cannot provide confirmation about whether the group has been readmitted to the party or not.
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