Pix: Samson Nambu addressing journalists at the press conference

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A GROUP calling itself National Association of Former Constituency Chairpersons of the ruling NPP,  claims the Akufo-Addo-led government and the NPP have snubbed them.

As a result, they have given the government and the NPP up to the end of this year (2022) to address their demands or “smell the consequences” during the 2024 elections.

The 148 immediate past NPP Constituency Chairpersons across the country lamented that before the 2016 general elections most of them,
used their own vehicles in their respective constituencies to campaign for party and won power in 2016 and 2020 elections through the “Adopt a Polling Station System” as directed by the party to the chairpersons and other party faithfuls.

Addressing a press conference at the Jackson Spot at Owhim near Kumasi recently, Mr. Samson Nambu, former Chairman of Yunyoo Constituency in the North East Region said President Akufo-Addo, then the flagbearer, promised that if the party gained power “he will make sure that all chairpersons who qualify to occupy positions as MMDCEs will be given the opportunity and those who will not be interested will be allowed to make a choice because of their efforts and contributions to the campaign.

“We want to emphasize that we the former chairpersons played a vital role in the general elections which brought the party to power.

Some of our colleagues have suffered diverse ailments and are now bedridden with stroke and other physical challenges through accidents, all in
the name of the party but were now left to their fate”, he said.

According to the group, they have petitioned President Akufo-Addo, the Vice President Dr. Bawumia, former President J.A. Kufuor and the party hierarchy but have not had response, an indication that the president has “opposed our petition or demands without providing any meaningful alternative”.

The Association said it is aware of the “handsome packages MMDCEs enjoy during their tenure of office and at the end of their service” unlike the constituency chairpersons.

The aggrieved former party executives  also said “we are also aware of the beautiful packages enjoyed by Regional Chairpersons'” whereas it
is the constituency chairpersons who did the “dirty work”.

He said “most of us lost our seats (as constituency chairpersons) because of the openness and truth we expressed about some of our MMDCEs, Regional Executives, MPs and Regional Ministers in order to remain in government for a long time and this made them to gang up against us in 2020 internal elections”.

The National Secretary of the association, Mr. Benjamin Assabil, who is also the former Chairman of the Tano South Constituency said members of the government and the NPP should not take the group for granted because they are capable of anything including neglecting the party and campaigning against it in 2024 and send it (NPP) into opposition.

By Kow Richardson 

Kumasi