A flagbearer aspirant of the New Patriotic Party, Francis Addai-Nimoh says the NPP is on the brink of disunity due to discontent among the party’s leadership.
The presidential hopeful wants all grievances addressed to ensure victory in the 2024 general elections.
‘‘It is not something that we cannot overcome. It is how you approach it. There must be an internal unity that must be intact. So, we need to strive to ensure that all members will stay together as a united front’’.
In an interview with 3News on October 4, 2023, regarding happenings in the NPP, the former legislator expressed worry about the level of disunity within the party.
‘‘Anybody who will say that the party is so united now may be giving the false impression. After August 26, the unity of the party is shaking and we all have to work on it. It’s among ourselves. How do we see ourselves? How do we see one another as a family? So, we are on the slippery grounds as far as the unity of the parry is concerned, and that imposes that responsibility on delegates to elect a person who is the unifier,” he stated.
The New Patriotic Party has been hit by internal wrangling due to the ongoing contest for the flagbearer ahead of the 2024 elections. Amidst claims of the party’s hierarchy support for Vice President Dr. Bawumia, former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen has broken away from the party and intends to contest the election as an independent presidential candidate.
In addition to that, there is an on-going public spat between the Ashanti Regional chairman of the party, Bernard Antwi-Boasiko and presidential aspirant, Kennedy Agyapong that threatens to further damage the party’s reputation.
Mr. Addae- Nimoh is worried about the trend and has no doubt that the Alan Kyerematen episode exposes many deep-seated problems within the party.
“We have seen the events that have happened relating to Mr. Alan Kyerematen who has taken the decision to leave the party. For me, that is unpleasant as far I am concerned. I would have wished that it did not happen that way, but that is his personal decision. Nobody should assume that it is only one person who says he is leaving the party. There may be so many others who may be dissatisfied and we need to see how we can address the issues and get everybody recognised, respected for the battle in 2024,” he appealed.
The 58-year-old politician expressed concern that without curtailing the continuous preferential treatment by the party, it cannot break the 8 as it wishes come 2024.
”Unity will be achieved if there is a pre-condition of justice being ensured. Once there is justice, I know that there is no preferential treatment, equal opportunity or fair opportunity for all then I know that I also have a stake in the party. Healthy competition doesn’t require coercion and intimidation, it requires that delegates are given the freedom to express their decision’’.
The Civil Engineer believes that the party requires a fresh, unblemished leader.
‘‘Looking at the circumstances of the party now, the party needs an unblemished and a unifying new face to lead the party so as to achieve our objectives of breaking the 8’ and renew the mandate of the party for 12 years and 16 years”.
Francis Addai-Nimoh was a Member of Parliament for Mampong in the Ashanti region in the 5th and 6th Parliaments. In Parliament, he served on the Environment Science and Technology committee. Under the 6th Parliament he was the ranking member of that committee. Prior to his parliamentary career, Francis Addai-Nimoh worked at the Ministry of Roads and Highways.