Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, who is one of the aspiring flagbearers of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ahead of the 2024 presidential election, has warned his followers not to flout the directive given by the party to all aspirants ahead of the congress in Kumasi this weekend.
He said his team is ready to take disciplinary action against anyone who disobeys the party’s directive that no aspirant should mount campaign posters, banners and billboards of party aspirants in Kumasi before the annual National Delegates Congress.
The Ashanti regional capital of Kumasi, to be specific, the Heroes Park, near the Baba Yara Stadium, would be hosting this year’s annual National Delegates Conference, which is scheduled to take place this weekend.
The mounting of giant campaign posters, billboards and banners in major streets ahead of important party programmes has been in existence for many years, as it contributes towards hyping such programme.
However, the party leadership has, this time around, said the party campaign billboards have the potential of igniting division and tension in the ruling political party, a point several party members disapprove.
The Agric Minister’s team in a statement yesterday said “Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, affectionately called ‘The Legend’ has led by directing that all billboards portraying his image within the Greater Kumasi enclave and Ashanti Region be pulled down. This is in strict adherence to the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) directives that seek to ban all campaign activities ahead of the congress.”
“Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto is the Minister of Food and Agriculture and also a biological son of Okyeame Baffour Akoto – the most prominent founding leader of the United Party (UP) tradition. He is currently perceived by many political pundits and researchers as the most popular among the potential NPP Presidential Aspirants,” the statement said.
The statement added that the minister has asked for a level-playing field as well as a contest devoid of bickering and acrimony so that the NPP will continue grow and become the preferred party for every Ghanaian.