Dankwah Smith Butey, First National Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has called for the immediate removal of all current national executives, including himself, following the party’s disastrous performance in the 2024 general elections.
Speaking to Sompa FM, Butey accused the leadership of incompetence and self-interest, insisting fresh faces must take charge to revive the party’s fortunes.
Butey minced no words in his critique “Me, I want all National Executives, including myself, to be sacked. As First Vice Chairman, I demand that we all be removed, we have failed. What are we seeking to achieve by staying on? We were entrusted with 137 seats to expand our majority, yet we reduced it to 88. Aren’t we ashamed to seek another term? For what purpose?
He insisted that the party needs new leadership, arguing that the party does not belong to any individual.
“We need fresh people to take over the party. The party does not belong to anyone; we must think about the party’s interests rather than our personal interests. We inherited 137 seats but reduced them to 88. Aren’t you ashamed and still want to run again? Who will vote for you? Or do you think NPP members lack sense?”, he asked.
He accused current executives seeking re-election of being driven by personal interests rather than prioritizing the party’s welfare.
Butey stated“Any current executive member seeking re-election is motivated by personal gain, not the party’s interests. If you genuinely cared about the party and prioritized its welfare, you wouldn’t seek another term”.
The First Vice Chairman dismissed claims that former President Akufo-Addo alone caused the NPP’s defeat.
“They all blame Akufo-Addo for our defeat, but when Akufo-Addo was taking actions that led to our loss, as national officers, what did you say to him? You all sat by unconcerned and allowed him to do as he pleased.
He added “We must accept that it is we, the national executives, who caused the defeat-not Akufo-Addo or anyone else. It is the party that brought the government to power, so if the person leading the government is doing something wrong and we, as a party, cannot tell him, what kind of leaders are we?”.
Addressing the upcoming party-organized “Thank You Tour,” Butey acknowledged internal dissent but defended the initiative as a collective decision.
He stressed “Whether you are happy or not, you must attend because it’s the party’s event, and we must comply.
“I can confirm that not everyone agrees with the Thank You Tour, so not everyone supports it. However, once it’s the party’s decision, it’s akin to parliamentary procedure: decisions are made, which is why we have the whip system to enforce discipline. There’s nothing wrong with ensuring compliance”, he explained.
Source: www.kumasimail.com /Kwadwo Owusu