Obuasi NPP still in turmoil

The Obuasi Constituency of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) is still going through difficult times as supporters of the two main blocs within the party; Nana Akufo-Addo and Alan Kyerematen, are unable to iron their differences amicably even after the regional congress.

Some members in the constituency, who are opposed to the new executives, have warned that they are going to vote ‘skirt and blouse’ come 2012 if they are not allowed to have a re-election in the constituency.

They contended that the procedure in which the executives were elected was unconstitutional since the normal practice of the party was not followed; naming some top party personalities whom they alleged schemed with some members in the constituency to choose the executives.

The National Chairman, Peter Mac-Manu, Member of Parliament for Manhyia, Mathew Opoku Prempeh, and that of Oforikrom, Elizabeth Agyeman and Kwadwo Boampong, the present Constituency Chairman, were some of the names they group alleged conspired to perpetuate that unconstitutional act.

On 24th of January, 2010, some members of the constituency organized an election of new executives at Kyekyewere, a village in Fomena, where the former Obuasi Municipal Chief Executive, Joseph Kwadwo Boampong, and some others were pronounced new executives.

Following this, 30 polling station executives who did not agree with what they described as self- imposed executives, took the issue to court and demanded that no one should carry himself as an executive of the constituency till a new election had been conducted.

The case was adjourned till 9th of this month.

In an interview with TODAY the aggrieved members led by Sani Mohammed, the ousted Constituency Organizer questioned why delegates from Obuasi were allowed to vote last Sunday even when there was a case pending at the Obuasi circuit court, challenging the credibility of the present executives.

“The case has been adjourned to 9th of this month and we were all waiting for the time to know what next step we should take, only to see that the former MCE, Kwadwo Boampong, who chose himself as the chairman, and his people had been allowed to vote as delegates from Obuasi,” Mr Sani Mahama told this reporter.

He questioned why constituency executives of Obuasi would be elected in Fomena if there was no ill-motive behind their action.

He added that there was no information to the contestants of the various positions on the date and venue of the election, and those who went unopposed paid no vetting fees.

He warned that any decision by the court other than a call for a re-election would not be accepted by his group and they would also act in their normal position as constituency executives.

Even now, he assured, “we still hold ourselves as the constituency executives and we are not going to bow to any pressure from Mr Mac-Manu and those who think they are all powerful to do whatever they like in the party.”

STORY: FROM ENOCH AKONNOR, OBUASI