The former Brong Ahafo Region, now divided into Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions, was one of the regions where respectable names were associated with the New Patriotic Party (NPP). We had Ama Busia, J.H. Mensah, Agyenim Boateng, Kwadwo Owusu-Sekyere, Baffour-Awuah, Professor Gyan Baffour and Obiri Yeboah among others, whose decency, dedication and well cultured mannerism, made the NPP attractive in the region and in Ghana.
With the standards and good principles now almost lost in the party, when the Establishment took over, characters have started springing up across the country, characters who can safely be described as kplaamesi and the Bono region would not be exempted.
Social media dropped a video where the NPP Bono regional chairman, Kwame Baffoe, aka Abronye DC, descended rudely on Dr. Richard Anane, who only expressed disapproval on how the regional chairman disrespected H.E. J.A. Kufuor at a meeting.
We were told that Kufuor spoke against the Top-Bottom Approach and there and then Abronye DC took offense and spoke rudely to the ex-president, adding Afoko in his crude statement.
Later, in his trademark hostile and unruly language, Abronye DC told Ghanaians that Dr. Anane was a useless doctor who administered wrong medicine to patients and killed many. He went on to say that as minister under the Kufuor administration Dr. Anane stole state money.
Making such libellous statements against the revered doctor could land him in front of a judge. Someone should clip this loose tongue of this wayward regional chairman.
Abronye DC added that Dr. Anane was never helpful to party members, when he was approached for assistance. What is he saying about Prof. Attafuah’s confession that President Akufo-Addo warned his appointees not to give jobs to party members?
He added that he, Abronye DC, was above in rank than Dr Anane, so far as the party is concern and that if Dr. Anane joined the NPP in 1992, he joined in 2000, and there was not much difference.
It is sad to say that, this Bono man does not know that even one year difference would still make Dr. Anane, his senior. Also, it was the works of people like Dr. Anane which made the party attractive enough for him to join in 2000.
Any community or society that must thrive and progress, must be led by good elders and leaders. NPP used to be led by good elders until the Establishment, whose main agenda is most likely to destroy the party, took over and brought in uncultured kids, like Abronye DC, who would not respect elders but rather do things that tarnish the image of the party and make it unattractive.
Now the party is breeding rude and disrespectful kids who believe they must do their masters’ bids, even if what they do is not sensible and is injurious to the party.
Kwame Baffoe is speculated to be 42 or 43 years, which means if he joined the NPP in 2000, he was eighteen or nineteen. The question he should be asked is what attracted him to the party? And when he became a member, did he see the youth loudly abusing and disrespecting the elders?
Abronye DC must know that he became a regional chairman because those who elected him were mostly people of his class and kind, who are grossly unfit for purpose; for in a community full of drunkards, a drunkard is most likely to be elected MP. So, Abronye DC should know that he became regional chairman by default, and he cannot compare himself in anyway to Dr. Anane, whether academically, socially or politically.
Everybody knows how the elections of polling stations officers were heavily manipulated to make sure that only those perceived to be on the side of the Establishment were elected to be officers.
In the end, we had a Bono regional chairman, who cannot follow in the footsteps of people like J.H. Mensah and Ama Busia, because the truth is, his standard and level of mentality are so low and he definitely cannot be compared to these elders.
Making libellous statements against Dr, Anane could land him court. In all this, no one is calling Abronye DC to order.
The issue of the Top Bottom Approach is simple. While it will surely break up the party, on the other hand, without it, the current party officers cannot get retained in office. As it is, if NPP loses 2028, there will be another Top-Bottom Approach and so shall it be, until members of the party arise and demand that the right things are done and the good old ways are restored in the party.
The aspirant I feel sorry for is Dr. Bawumia. He does not deserve all this. Some of his supporters are all over spewing foul language and not only dividing the NPP but making it so unattractive and making more and more people keep their distance from it. This will not help the former vice-president because with these, even if he wins the primary, 2024 could be repeated in 2028. He needs to seal the lips of these uncouth followers of his, asap.
Kwame Baffoe Abronye DC, is just not qualified to sit with elders like Kufuor and to even speak in their presence. If he had the opportunity, the only thing to do is to sit quietly and listen to wisdom and learn how to be a good boy.
While he is destroying the party, his masters are looking on and smiling that things are working out according to plan. What Abronye DC must know is that it is his face and voice that people see and hear, and so he should bear in mind that when the moment arrives and party members start hunting for those who destroyed the party, he would be easily found and picked up. His mentors would never be apprehended.
When H.E. Kufuor spoke against things that are destroying the party, why should Abronye DC show disrespect? Simple, the plan was to shut down the revered processes in the NPP and turn it into a party where a few live by the rules and the majority die by the same rules. Suddenly the beacon of democracy, has been turned into a center of democratic dictatorship.
For this to work, there must be an engine which is the group of officers who would speak against and attack any one with diverse opinions.
Why Top-Bottom Approach in internal elections?A question, this failed administration never came up with any sensible answer. First, they claim an early primary will put the NPP’s flag bearer in the lead, since he would become better known among his peers and people will vote for him.
Secondly, we are told that with the flag bearer coming first, all other officers to be elected including parliamentary candidates, would be his loyal and faithful servants.
What low-brained answers! First, if it were to be better known than others that can win someone the presidency, then what happened to Victor Owusu and Paa Willie in 1979? Coming on board with a disunited front, they lost to the hitherto unknown Hilla Limann who came along with a well organised and united party.
Secondly, NPP should learn by now that unless the right people are placed into party offices, the flag bearer can never win the elections. 2023 should come in mind, when after party officers were hand-picked and made to openly to endorsed Bawumia, what happened after he won the flag bearer slot? The support from the party officers never reflected in the General Elections.
For a sound and effective administration,only the good people are needed and diverse opinions welcomed, where members can share ideas and not be sycophants.
When Danquah Smith Butey, the acting national chairman, was asked about Abronye DC’s misconduct before Kufuor, knowing very well that he supported the Bono regional chairman on this, he brushed it off by saying Abronye DC never insulted Kufuor. But Dr. Anane never said Kufuor was insulted. He said he was disrespected. Exposing himself as someone who will definitely benefit from the Top-Bottom Approach, Butey, just brushed the matter aside, trying to convince Ghanaians that nothing really happened. What exactly Abronye DC said, he would not say and that alone confirmed that Dr. Anane spoke the truth.
This current administration of the NPP is a failed one. In some democracies, all the executive officers from the national level right down to the grassroot;especially where the party got less than five votes at the polling stations, should have all resigned by now. So, that by this time, an interim administration, would have resolved the party’s problems and be preparing for the usual Bottom-Top Approach of internal elections.
In summary, where from Kwame Baffoe Abronye DC, to become a leader of the NPP when he has no objective mindset and maturity? It is only in nowadays NPP that such characters would be leading the party into damnation.
To someone like Smith Butey, a great shame to him, for rearing this dzimakpla in the NPP.
By Hon. Daniel Dugan
