OHENE NTOW’S BOMBSHELL

…Kufuor can support Alan
STORY: ATO KEELSON

Nana Ohene Ntow, General Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), has categorically stated that there is absolutely nothing wrong if former President John Agyekum Kufuor decides to support Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen to win the flag bearship of the party.

According to him, what is of prime importance is how former President Kufuor comports himself in that matter.
“It is no big deal if Kufuor likes Mr Kyerematen, and there is nothing wrong with that, but what matters is how the former President comports himself in that matter if indeed it is true,” Nana Ohene Ntow asserted.

He also advised that it was about time the party sought the ideas of Mr Kufuor on how to manage internal party wrangling.

The NPP scribe was sharing his opinions on Accra-based Citi Fm yesterday on the suggestion by Dr Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe, a founder member of the NPP that former President Kufuor should be deeply involved in addressing the Nana and Kyerematen factions’ saga which is creating disaffection amongst NPP members.

Nana Ohene Ntow, who described Dr Tamakloe’s suggestion as remarkable, however contended that members of the party must recognise the fact that Mr Kufuor is a great value and an asset to the NPP. This, he stressed, cannot be underestimated.

“There is currently no one in the party who has been able to achieve what former President Kufuor has achieved for the NPP party,” he intimated.

Nana Ohene Ntow who was content with the suggestion made by Dr Tamakloe noted that it was high time the party tapped into the rich political experience of Mr Kufuor if it was serious about recapturing power from the National Democratic Congress-NDC government.

He said as human, Mr Kufuor might have stepped on one or two toes, but that does not mean he should not be forgiven.
“If you always operate on the basis of mistrust then you should not forget that you cannot make any progress in party politics,” noted Nana Ohene Ntow.

Mr Kufuor, he said, has helped tremendously in shaping the NPP to win power in the country, adding that there was still more he (Mr Kufuor) can bring to the table.
The NPP General Secretary did not shy away from the fact that there were some challenges confronting the party, citing the case of the Nana Addo/Kyerematen factions.

He admitted that that was an issue that was known to every living member of the party and can therefore, not be swept under the carpet.

In his opinion, Mr Kufuor must be given recognition and his views sought on how best to solve the Nana Addo/Kyerematen factional issue that is affecting the very fibre of the NPP.
He noted that if that recognition was accorded the former President, then he can play a more proactive role in addressing the problems bedeviling the party.

Even though the NPP general secretary conceded that there were some challenges confronting the NPP, he was quick to add that there was no way that could tear the NPP apart.

“If you do not allow some important personalities to contribute their quota in the party, anytime there are problems, such problems have the potential of overwhelming the party,” Nana Ohene Ntow stated.
Nana Ohene Ntow described as unfortunate the practice where some party members were bad- mouthing the former President. That, he indicated, was not helping the party in any way.

He further cautioned that the party will not make progress if it continued to remain in the shadows of Alan/Kyerematen factionalism.

The NPP General Secretary suggested that efforts by the rank and file of the party must be geared towards party cohesion and unity, stressing that “If we weaken the party at the grassroots level there is no way the NPP can win the presidency.”
According to him, it is obvious that both Nana Akufo-Addo and Alan Kyerematen are financially sound, adding that they could channel some of their resources to the party centre, instead of giving such monies to their supporters on the ground.
“If this is done it will help build a strong NPP party,” Nana Ohene Ntow declared.

On the suggestion by Mr Daniel Kwaku Botwe that campaigning for the flag bearship must be banned until further notice, Nana Ohene Ntow contended that he agreed wholeheartedly with Mr Botwe., adding that the problem is how such ban could be enforced.