NPP Chairman renders unqualified apology to Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah

• Posted on April 16, 2015April 16, 2015
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Information reaching DAILY GUIDE indicates that the Ofoase/Ayirebi New Patriotic Party (NPP) constituency chairman, Ohene Amponsah, has rendered an unqualified apology to Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, an aspiring parliamentary candidate for the area, for comments he made about the latter to the effect that he doesn’t qualify to contest for the seat.

Ohene Amponsah was reported to have said that Oppong-Nkrumah was not qualified to run for Parliament on the ticket of the main opposition party in Ofoase/Ayirebi.

“You must have served the party in the constituency for at least two years to run as an MP. But Kojo has served the party for less than a year and a half, so what is pushing him to stand as an MP in this constituency?” Mr Ampomah queried in an interview with Starr Fm on Friday, April 10, 2015.

The ace broadcaster, who recently announced his intention to run in the NPP’s parliamentary primaries, said he has weighed the “potential risks and discomforts of political life,” but upon “calls and encouragements to run,” he has come to the conclusion that he can help fix Ghana’s problems through politics.

“My decision to run for public office is not one I have made lightly. I have weighed the calls and encouragements to run, against the potential risks and discomforts of political life. I have spent weeks consulting with delegates and members of my community and my family,” the former host of Joy FM’s Super Morning Show wrote on his Facebook page.

He added: “In Ghana today, many of us complain about the ills of our nation. However, few of us are willing to offer ourselves to be part of the process of fixing these ills. Many of us think nothing can be done. Others think the cost will be too high.

“After careful consideration, I am of the view that many more of us can put aside our personal needs and take up a challenge higher than ourselves.

“I believe that many more of us who are unhappy with the status quo must step up and be part of the process of fixing our problems.”

Oppong-Nkrumah said in the weeks ahead, therefore, “I will be going through my party’s nomination, filing and campaign processes ahead of the June 13 parliamentary primaries. I hope I will be successful at the end of the day so I can contribute my quota directly to my party, my constituency and my nation.

“I thank all persons and groups who have already expressed support and well wishes for this decision. I will count on their support in my campaign. I thank my family for agreeing that I take up this challenge.”

“Together we can win this primary. Together we can win the 2016 election. Together we can turn around the fortunes of this constituency and our nation. Thank you and let’s get to work,” he concluded.

However, Mr Amponsah in an interview with Starr Fm noted that any attempt to bulldoze Mr Oppong-Nkrumah’s candidature through, in blatant disregard to the laws of the party would amount to setting a bad example.

“I’m just stating the law in the constituency. If the Regional or national Executives decide to pass him then it will set a bad precedent for the party in the constituency. That is why I’m trying to prevent that. That is what I’m trying to avoid, not that I’m opposed to his ambition.

“If Kojo goes, it will worry the party because Kojo is a stranger in the party…He is not in touch with the grassroots. He is a fine gentleman, but he needs to serve the party for a while before ascending to that level,” Mr Amponsah said.

Due to this utterances, some of National and the Eastern Regional Executives of the New Patriotic Party on Tuesday summons Mr Ohene Amponsah to appear before them to answer the basis why he went out on air making such statement against the anchor journalist.

The meeting as gathered took place at the official residence of Nana Akufo Addo at Nima in Accra, where both parties hold talks.

Sources told DAILY GUIDE the party hierarchy was angry over the chairman comments.

Mr Ohene Amponsah however pleaded for making such comments which he admitted his mistakes and render an unqualified apology to Kojo Oppong Nkrumah in presence of the participants.

The Ofoase Ayirebi NPP chairman as gathered accept his mistakes and promise to ensure peace and wouldn’t go out in public or on air to make any comments about the aspirant’s MP since Kojo is a party member who hails from the area and have been helpful to the party always.

The chairman further took a photographs with Kojo Nkrumah which marks as a unity between both parties.

By Daniel Bampoe