The Ashanti Regional executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have expressed anger and disappointment, accusing Justin Kodua Frimpong, the party’s General Secretary, President Nana Akufo-Addo, and Stephen Ntim the national chairman of sidelining the region in recent parliamentary leadership appointments.
According to a reliable source within the regional council, tensions flared during a recent meeting of Ashanti NPP Members of Parliament (MPs), where 39 elected MPs from the region resolved that the Minority Chief Whip position should be allocated to the Ashanti Region.
Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie was reportedly nominated for the role, but the decision was overridden by the party’s national leadership through President Nana Akufo Addo Justin Frimpong Koduah source alleged.
The source further revealed that the regional council meeting was attended by key figures, including the party’s Vice-Presidential candidate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.
Concerns were raised about the safety of the party’s parliamentary majority, particularly in constituencies like Frank Annoh-Dompreh’s Nsawam-Adoagyiri seat, which some believe remains vulnerable.
Despite these discussions, the National Council is alleged to have reneged on its initial agreement to allocate the Minority Chief Whip position to Ashanti. Instead, the role went to a candidate aligned with Afenyo-Markin and the Central Region, fueling accusations of betrayal.
“Neglect of Ashanti Region”
The executives argue that the Ashanti Region, which has consistently delivered the highest number of seats for the NPP in general elections, has been marginalized in both developmental projects and leadership appointments.
“Ashanti is saying, just give us one leadership position in the parliamentary setup, but they have refused. How many seats did the Central Region deliver to the NPP in the last election?” one angry executive lamented.
Blame Directed at Akufo-Addo and Party Leadership
The executives squarely blamed President Nana Akufo-Addo, Justin Kodua, and National Chairman Stephen Ntim for the alleged betrayal. They contend that the neglect of Ashanti in developmental projects and party leadership positions has demoralized the party’s grassroots in the region, contributing to the party’s current opposition status.
“We are in opposition because President Akufo-Addo has neglected the Ashanti Region in terms of development, and now, you deny us top positions in the parliamentary leadership. This conduct is unacceptable,” a source added.
Call for Action
The executives have vowed to demand accountability from the national leadership, insisting that the Ashanti Region deserves fair representation in leadership roles within the party. Some have even hinted at mobilizing grassroots protests to express their displeasure.
As tensions simmer, this internal party wrangling threatens to deepen divisions within the NPP ahead of the 2024 general elections, with the Ashanti Region—traditionally the party’s stronghold—at the center of the storm.
below is the full list of Parliamentry appointments made by the party.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
