S.O. Frimpong
THE CONTROVERSY that rocked the recent election of polling station executives and electoral area coordinators of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ejisu Constituency of the Ashanti Region appears to be escalating and threatening internal party unity.
The Ejisu Constituency executives of the NPP had petitioned the national and regional executives against the declaration of some members of the party suspected to be sympathisers of the MP, John Ampontuah Kumah, as polling station executives and electoral area coordinators in the constituency.
It is emerging that even before party executives officially respond to the petition, members of Young Patriots, are planning to stage a demonstration today against the MCE, Samuel Oduro Frimpong, for being behind the petition.
Reports say some party youth in the Atwima Kwanwoma Constituency, believed to be members of Young Patriots and ardent supporters of the area’s MP, Kofi Amankwaa-Manu, are also being bussed to participate in the Ejisu demonstration.
Viral audio messages confirm the readiness of members of Young Patriots from Atwima Kwanwoma to storm Ejisu to participate in the protest against S. O. Frimpong, to get him removed from office without any justifiable cause.
The planned demonstration is seen to be at variance with the recent appeal made by the chairman of the Ashanti Regional Council of Elders of the party, Rev. Mark Adu Gyamfi, imploring aggrieved party members to lodge complaints with the council for amicable settlement of disputes.
Aside his alleged involvement in the petition, it is not clear any blunder the MCE has committed in office to necessitate the demonstration against him, except the purported misunderstanding that exists between him and the MP, John Kumah.
Recent media reports, however, suggest attempts by S. O. Frimpong to allegedly connive with his brother, Kwame Agyeman-Budu, a leading member of the party. But sources close to the constituency say the MP’s anger clearly stems from the fact that the MCE did not support the controversial election of some party members as polling station executives and electoral area coordinators on February 26, 2022.
When reached for his comment, the MCE denied the allegation that he was conniving with his brother to unseat the MP, describing it as false, a palpable lie, without any iota of truth. He has therefore urged Ghanaians to ignore it.
Mr. Frimpong challenged the MP to produce an evidence to show that he and his brother have an intention to unseat him, stressing that his relationship with the MP is cordial, and has nothing against him.
In his petition to party executives, Kwame Agyeman-Budu, implored the NPP leadership to bring all parties together to foster peace, unity and love in the constituency.
Meanwhile, efforts to contact the MP for his reaction to the story were unsuccessful.
The police in Ejisu have indicated they are on alert to forestall any clashes as the two rival groups in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) hit the streets to protest.
While a faction allegedly supporting Dr. John Kumah will be hitting the streets to indicate the recent polling station elections at Ejisu were successful, the other group, supposedly loyalists to Agyeman-Budu would also hit the streets to declare that the elections were not free and fair.
FROM James Quansah & I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi