Spokesperson for a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, Osman Ahmed has advised former president John Agyekum Kufour to vote in the party’s upcoming presidential primaries to clear all doubt about his position.
Many in the NPP accuse the former president who is considered an elder of the party of taking sides in the constest for the presidential slot by supporting Alan Kyeremanteng’s bid against the favourite for the position, Nana Akufo-Addo.
The two contested for the slot in the 2008 and 2012 elections with Mr. Kyerematen losing on both occasions.
Some party supporters attribute the party’s last two defeats to president Kufour due to his supposed support for Kyerematen.
Although Mr. Kufour has refuted these claims, the perception still lingers.
He also abstained from voting in the NPP’s Super Delegates Congress in August and media reports indicate that he will not be voting again in the October 18 Congress.
But some supporters in the party are unhappy with his decision.
Speaking on the Citi Fm’s Eyewitness News on Tuesday, Osman Ahmed explained that “there is perception out there about divisions within our party that the former president has taken sides on numerous occasions which he has come out to disclaim. Now is an opportunity for him to set the example for us.”
He also argued that such a decision by the ex-president is not the best saying; “this is the man who ruled Ghana for eight solid years… If he comes out to say that he is not voting, I believe he is sending a very dangerous signal to the up and coming ones of our party and Ghanaians when it comes to the issue of voting.”
“For him to refuse voting I believe is a very discouraging stand and which to me in future, when we are not careful, even when we come to national election, some of our party people will not have the encouragement, the conviction to go to the polling station to cast their vote.”
But the spokesperson for Ex-president Kufour, Frank Agyekum on the same programme, said “it was better that he stayed outside the political frame and be seen as an elder” instead of voting in the election.
“It’s the best way for the party to go forward,” he insisted.
Source: citifmonline
