Yaw Buaben Asamoa, a member of the Alan Kyerematen Campaign team, has sharply attacked his own party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), for what he sees as impunity and a disregard for established standards.
He further emphasized that the party is not acting democratically.
Buaben Asamoa’s comments follow Alan Kyerematen’s decision to resign from the NPP flagbearer competition.
Mr Kyerematen, who finished third at the party’s special delegates’ meeting on August 26, expressed worry that the campaign looked to be slanted in favor of one of the candidates.
He also mentioned incidents of intimidation directed at his operatives during the election process.
Buaben Asamoa expressed his support for Mr Kyerematen’s decision to withdraw from the contest during an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Eyewitness News.
He repeated Kyerematen’s worries about one candidate’s apparent favoritism and the use of intimidation, impunity, and inducements to obtain votes.
“He is announcing to the Ghanaian population that he has withdrawn from this process which is in favour of one person, and it’s stopping at nothing, not stopping at intimidation, impunity, and inducements in order to secure a vote for one person, and that process is what he has withdrawn from.”
“Fortunately, he recognises the people who believe in him and he has acknowledged that belief. He goes on to say that this ongoing process will not deliver their expectations, the expectations of him being selected to become the leader of the party and the realisation of his vision. Rightfully so, he’s convinced and has had the courage to withdraw.”
“As for politics, you can’t stop people from speculating and putting their lenses on whatever happens. But the truth of the process that we are going through in the NPP is not NPP-like, it’s not a democratic process. The party is acting with impunity, it is making rules and changing rules at will, and everybody can see what is going on.”
“The last Special Delegates’ Conference was full of intimidation, You have all the stories, and it’s not important to tell the stories as new. The courage of one conviction is more important, and I think Alan should be commended for having the courage of his conviction to withdraw”.
For the time being, four people remain in the race, which is scheduled for November 4.
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong, former Agriculture Minister Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and former Mampong MP Francis Addai-Nimoh are among them.
The election is set to take place on September 6.
