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NPP Patriots appeal to the party to recall Kwabena Agyepong

Addressing a press conference in Cape Coast, former NPP youth organizer in KEEA, Ato Dadzie maintains the “ grassroots of the party are getting increasingly agitated with the continuing suspension of Kwabena Agyepong."

Addressing a press conference in Cape Coast, Wednesday, former NPP youth organizer in KEEA, Ato Dadzie maintains the “ grassroots of the party are getting increasingly agitated with the continuing suspension of Kwabena Agyepong, following his overwhelming endorsement at the Tamale Congress.

“The longer his suspension continues to run, the more it confirms a deliberate intention to overturn the popular choice of the Tamale Congress. To restate the question our compatriots in other regions continue to ask,” he stated.

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According to him, comments from some executives of the NPP accusing Mr. Agyepong of a ploy to undermine the chances of the party during the 2016 polls is  regrettable, considering his immense contribution towards the fortunes of the party.

“As patriots of our party we recall the chequered history of our party during the terrifying formative years under the PNDC/NDC 1, and recognise the selfless service, sacrifice, sweat and toil that persons like KAA had to endure to bring us this far."

We cannot forget the days when KAA was the face of the party on GBC TV campaigning for Prof. Adu Boahen in 1992 when only the brave and courageous could dare.

We cannot forget the instrumental role he played against all the odds for HE Nana Akufo-Addo during his first attempt at the NPP Flagbearership in 1998.

We cannot forget the sterling qualities he displayed as Press Secretary to the President and Presidential Spokesman between 2001 and 2006.

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KAA’s dedication, commitment and longstanding service to our party is a matter of public record”.

Ato –Dadzie aslo stated “It quite clear now that some of the far-sighted and strategic decisions KAA took and for which reason he was suspended eg. Granting of waivers, were crucial and needed after all. A case in point is Hon Ato Cudjoe who was granted a waiver in a constituency, Ekumfi, where we traditionally struggled and perhaps this attributed to him winning the seat for the first time in the party’s history. Today he is serving in government as a deputy minister."

Central Region joins Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Greater-Accra, Northern and Volta regions who have all appealed to the National Council of the NPP and especially the President of the Republic, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to respectfully and humbly intervene to lift the suspension.

Below is a copy of the full statement

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LET OUR VOTES IN TAMALE COUNT

Ladies and gentlemen of the media, we thank you for honouring our invitation. We are here this morning to share with you our views on current happenings regarding the continuing suspension of our legitimately elected General Secretary of our beloved party the NPP, Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong (KAA).

As loyal and committed members of the NPP in the Central Region, we wish  through your various media outlets to add our voices to the numerous calls from our counterparts in the Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Greater-Accra,  Northern and Volta regions to appeal to the National Council of the NPP and especially  the President of the Republic, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, respectfully and humbly appealing to him to intervene to bring to a conclusion this unfortunate episode.

We believe we represent the silent majority across the country who share similar sentiments. We wish to state that in the greater interest of the unity, cohesiveness of our party and in the spirit of fairness and natural justice, we will be very pleased to see the suspension lifted and our General Secretary restored to his elected position.

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KAA in spite of his disagreement with the decision to suspend him ( see attachment), he nonetheless accepted it, respected NEC's decision on him as enshrined in Article 3 of our constitution. He remained silent and committed to the party and contributed financially and materially to our victory in 2016. What more could be asked of a patriot than that?

Unfortunately, however, we continue to note with concern even more regrettable responses from some national executives of the party making the argument that the last election was won without our General Secretary as a result he must be dispensed with. Is it any wonder that those who are the direct beneficiaries of the suspensions are the most voiciferous against his reinstatement? We respectfully differ and will like to state emphatically that winning an election is a process not an event.

We as the grassroots of the party remain proud of the manner KAA, as he is affectionately called, smoothly managed and supervised the two-stage presidential primary and crucially, the parliamentary contests across the country which contributed immensely to the historic majority the party won in the Parliamentary election. At the time of his suspension only a handful of constituencies were outstanding.

We cannot equally forget the reforms he brought as GS by making good his campaign pledge to strengthen the base of the party by ensuring that for the first time in our party’s history, constituency accounts were credited directly with funds from party headquarters in line with his philosophy of enhancing grassroot political activism and control.

It quite clear now that some of the far-sighted and strategic decisions KAA took and for which reason he was suspended eg. Granting of waivers, were crucial and needed after all. A case in point is Hon Ato Cudjoe who was granted a waiver in a constituency, Ekumfi, where we traditionally struggled and perhaps this attributed to him winning the seat for the first time in the party’s history. Today he is serving in government as a deputy minister.

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As patriots of our party we recall the chequered history of our party during the terrifying formative years under the PNDC/NDC 1, and recognise the selfless service, sacrifice, sweat and toil that persons like KAA had to endure to bring us this far.

We cannot forget the days when KAA was the face of the party on GBC TV campaigning for Prof. Adu Boahen in 1992 when only the brave and courageous could dare.

We cannot forget the instrumental role he played against all the odds for HE Nana Akufo-Addo during his first attempt at the NPP Flagbearership in 1998.

We cannot forget the sterling qualities he displayed as Press Secretary to the President and Presidential Spokesman between 2001 and 2006.

KAA’s dedication, commitment and longstanding service to our party is a matter of public record.

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The longer his suspension continues to run, the more it confirms  a deliberate intention to overturn the popular choice of the Tamale Congress. To restate the question our compatriots in other regions continue to ask.

IS IT A REMOVAL DRESSED UP AS A SUSPENSION?

The grassroots of the party are getting increasingly agitated that a legitimate decision of the party congress, the highest decision-making body of the party is being subtly changed.

LET OUR VOTES IN TAMALE COUNT

As a political tradition we are respected as the kingpins of democracy and our respect for constitutional rule is acclaimed.

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If the original intention was to REMOVE rather than suspend, then the processes stipulated in the appropriate article of the party’s constitution, Article 10, should have been deployed. As things stand now, it appears the party’s constitution provision regarding the removal of officers is being flagrantly disregarded.

We want to conclude by HUMBLY and RESPECTFULLY appealing to our President His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, himself a world renowned guardian of the rule of law and a protector of human rights, and the National Council to  lift the suspension and restore our General Secretary, Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong to his elected position.

Respectfully submitted.

We  the Undersigned

CC: H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

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H.E. J A Kufuor

Ag. NPP Chairman Hon. Freddy Blay

Mr C.K Tedam (Chairman Council of Elders, NPP)

The Diplomatic Community

NPP Parliamentary Leadership

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