- Alan Kyeremateng’s director of operations declares in Kumasi; Koduah’s leadership put to test
What would have passed as an impressive showing for Alan Kyeremateng’s 2024 flagbearer campaign in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, took a discriminatory tone with the aspirant’s Director of Operations, declaring northerners unfit for the presidency in New Patriotic Party (NPP).
According to Hopeson Adorye, northerners, whom he said represented the Dombo side of the ruling party, are traditionally only fit for running mates slot, adding that Mr Kyeremanteng, has his mind set on a northerner as his running when elected as flagbearer.
Mr Adorye’s bigoted statement was made in Kumasi during a health walk dubbed a “Walk for Alan”.
The walk, has since been hit by claims that people were paid and bussed from the 15 regions across the country to the Ashanti Regional capital by the Trade Minister’s team to participate.
Videos, have emerged with some of the participants angry at a paltry GH¢50 paid to them by Alan Kyeremateng’s 2024 campaign team after the walk.
One lamented that she had abandoned her children at home to take part in the walk just because of the love she had for Mr Kyeremanteng, but got only GH¢50.
It is not clear, if the utterances of Mr Adorye will see the NPP’s new General Secretary, Justine Frimpong Koduah, enforcing his predecessor, John Boadu’s stern warning on Tuesday July 27, 2021, to enforce its code of conduct against Presidential and Parliamentary candidates in accordance with Article 18 of its Constitution to maintained discipline in the party.
The Director of Operations for Mr Kyeremanteng, had consigned Northerners in NPP to second class citizens and ridiculed their status in the ruling party, saying Dombos are always in the mix and fit as running mates to either a Dankwa candidate or a Busia candidate so, that tradition must continue.
“There is one thing I am going to say. The NPP has a tradition. Our tradition is Busia, Danquah and Dombo. Danquah represents Eastern Region and the bottom (south), Danquah represents Ashanti Region and the Bono areas, while Dombo represents Northern Region” Mr Adorye, told the participants of “Walk for Alan” who sounded unenthusiastic.
He continued: “whenever a Dankwa leads the party, the Busia side step aside, but there is a Dombo (for running mate), and whenever a Busia lead, the Dankwa side step aside, but there is a Dombo (for running mate). As for the Dombos they are always there (for running mate).”
“In 1992, Albert Adu Boahen, who represented Dankwa contested with a Dombo. In 1996, we had the Great Alliance but in 2000, it came to Kufuor, who is a Busia, and he runned with a Dombo (as his running mate). Then after Kufuor, it moved back to Dankwa, with President Akufo-Addo. He also contested the election with another Dombo (as his running mate), who is Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia.
“If it went to Dankwa, cane to Busia, went back to Dankwa, where should it go now, is it not Busia?” Hopeson Adorye said.
The Alan man, fired more tribal salvos by urging the Ashanti Region and Asantes to vote for “one of their own”, Alan Kyeremateng to lead the NPP in 2024, because without Ashantis, the NPP cannot win any election in Ghana.
In reference to Mr. Kyeremanteng, some of the participants who were mostly in T-shirts with pictures of Mr. Kyeremanteng on it, had placards with the inscription, Asanteman hia wo to wit “Asanteman needs you”.
The Herald obtained a communication in the name of one Adakabre Frimpong Manso who had positively assessed the walk saying the Alan Kyeremanteng campaign should use the fallout of the event to push certain narratives.
He said “given the despondency in the country, particularly the NPP members, this event intends to galvanize and energize the base of the party.
“In the circumstances, if the NPP were to break the eight 8, then the party should be able to garner not less than 80% in the Ashanti Region in 2024, and from the look and evaluation of today’s event, it’s only Alan who stands the surest bet to lead NPP break the 8.
John Buadu’s press release which was meant to instill discipline in the party had warned that “For the avoidance of doubt, prospective Presidential and Parliamentary Candidates shall be held responsible for the actions and inactions of any person or group of persons identified as supporter(s) of a particular Candidate which are in flagrant breach of this Code of Conduct if the Prospective Candidate is seen explicitly or implicitly lending support or condoning and not publicly denouncing the activities of any such person or group of persons.
It went on to say that “the party reserves the right to disqualify any potential Presidential or Parliamentary Candidate or aspirant who either directly or indirectly breaches this Code of Conduct.
“For emphasis this Code of Conduct comes into force on this 27th Day of July, 2021, and shall remain in full force until the General Secretary of the party on behalf of the National Executive Committee/ National Council officially declares nominations for Presidential and Parliamentary Elections duly opened for prospective Candidates.
A stated misconduct is supposed to be put before a National Complaints Committee, by way of formal complaints from NPP members against any other member who breaches a new code of conduct adopted by the National Council ahead election of presidential candidate.
According to the party, the code of conduct is to regulate the behavior of party members ahead of the presidential and parliamentary primaries for the 2024 elections.
John Boadu’s press release said the decision was taking immediate effect, as it is to guide party members before the formal opening of nominations for the primaries except for aspirants in constituencies that do not have NPP Members of Parliament (MPs) – orphan constituencies.
The statement said, “It shall be the duty of the National Complaints Committee to investigate each complaint of violations of this Code of Conduct to determine whether or not there is a prima facie case”, adding “where the Committee has established a prima facie basis in a particular complaint, it shall make a referral to the National Disciplinary Committee for the necessary disciplinary actions in line with the provisions of the Constitution.”
The Committee is made up of Frank Davies, who is the Chairman of the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, Hackman Owusu Agyeman, who is the Chairman of the National Council of Elders, and John Boadu, who has since been replaced by Justine Frimpong Koduah as the NPP General Secretary.
“Sanctions shall be imposed on any member or supporter of the party, who fails, neglects, or refuses to comply with the orders of this Code of Conduct, adding “Possible sanctions include fines, suspension, expulsion from the party or disqualification from holding any office or position in the party for a stated period.”
The release emphasized that the party reserves the right to disqualify any potential presidential or parliamentary candidate or aspirant who either directly or indirectly breaches the new code of conduct.
“The National Council of the NPP, conscious of events of the past and the need to forestall reoccurrence and to instill discipline in Party administration, has adopted this Code of Conduct to regulate the conduct of Party Members in both Presidential and Parliamentary Primaries for Election 2024 during the Pre-Presidential and Parliamentary Primaries period.
“The Code of Conduct has been formulated in accordance with Article 18 of the New Patriotic Party’s Constitution and it is applicable to Party supporters and actors including Government Appointees; Ministers; Members of Governing Boards/Councils; Chief Executive Officers of Governmental Institutions; Members of Parliament; Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives; Aspirants/Potential Candidates; their Supporters and all other Members of the Party.
“This Code of Conduct is thus applicable during the period preceding the opening of nominations for prospective Candidates to contest for the Party’s Presidential and Parliamentary Elections, and shall be in force until the General Secretary, on behalf of the National Executive Committee/ National Council, officially declares that, positions for Presidential and Parliamentary Elections are opened to prospective Candidates as stipulated in the Party’s Constitution.
