The 2024 Presidential aspirant hopeful of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alan Kyerematen, has distanced himself from alleged tribal comments made by a member of the party, Hopeson Adorye, during a health walk organised by party members who have a soft spot for the candidature of the Trades and Industry Minister.
Hopeson Adorye allegedly said the vice-president position of the NPP was an automatic slot for Northerners, while that of the president switched between Danquah and Busia traditions.
Many have said that this tribal bigotry tends to project Alan Kyerematen’s candidature over that of the vice-president, Dr. Bawumia.
However, in his statement yesterday, the thrice-defeated presidential candidate said he understood that the consequences of those comments had generated strong reactions, with the potential to create divisions within the rank and file of our party at a crucial time in its history.
Though Mr. Kyerematen acknowledged the health walk and stressed it was independently organised, he failed to express whether or not he was in the know. He added that the walk was to “express their passion for the NPP, in addition to their genuine support for what I have come to represent in the Party, through years of dedicated service.
“Much as I do appreciate this show of support, I would like to strongly caution against any acts or omissions of any individuals or groups of individuals that may disturb the peace and harmony in our party,” he urged.
Meanwhile, he cautioned that it was important to fight what seemed to be emerging as a dangerous trend in the political body politic in Ghana, of using misinformation and propaganda to incite disunity along ethnic, religious and political lines.
The statement continued in part, “I passionately believe that it is impossible or inappropriate to diminish or distort the fundamental contributions and stature of any of the founding fathers of the NPP tradition, and I encourage party faithful to focus on this indisputable fact.
“Indeed, it is the dedicated service of all the celebrated, as well as unsung heroes and heroines of our great Party that has, and continues to give life to the NPP, till this day.”
NPP SUMMONS
In a related development, the National Complaints Committee of the NPP has invited Hopeson Adorye and the Member of Parliament for Tafo Pankrono Constituency, Ekow Vincent Assafuah, over concerns that they violated the party’s code of conduct.
Mr. Alan Kyerematen, on the other hand, had also been written to, since the health walk under contention was held in his name, according to a statement issued by the party.
The statement indicated that”… further comments made by some organisers of the Health walk and other keynote speakers, particularly Mr. Hopeson Adorye, a member of the NPP, also breached the party’s code of conduct and sought to divide the party’s front.”
The Tafo legislator is said to have, during an interview on Kumasi-based Oyerepa FM/TV, made remarks perceived to favour a presidential aspirant.
The party said that “despite a prompt from the host of the show that his declaration of support for a presidential hopeful violated the party’s code of conduct for presidential and parliamentary primaries, Mr Assafuah blatantly maintained his position.”
Meanwhile, the National Steering Committee says it also plans to arrange a meeting with all the Presidential hopefuls of the party “to court their support and full cooperation in respect of their compliance with the party’s code of conduct.”
“The Party wishes to further state that the institution and enforcement of these measures are not intended to aid the electoral advantage of any prospective candidate but to prevent tensions that often arise in the lead up to presidential and parliamentary primaries and secure a united Party front for the 2024 general elections.”
