There is turmoil within the rank and file of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Nhyiaeso Constituency as youth loyal to the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Stephen Amoah alias STICKA boil with rage over President Akufo-Addo’s purported advise to him to step down from contesting to become the party’s Parliamentary Candidate for the 2020 elections in that constituency.
Stephen Amoah, who contested the incumbent, Kennedy Kankam in the 2012 primaries alongside two others and lost, would be the sole contender this time round, barring any last minute changes as pressure reportedly mounts on him from the Presidency to choose between becoming the NPP candidate for Nhyiaeso and his current position as CEO of the state-owned financial institution.
Speaking in an interview on Kumasi-based Angel FM monitored by MyNewsGh.com on Thursday morning, former assemblyman for the Nhyiaeso Electoral Area and Campaign Coordinator for Sticka, Hon. Abraham Boadi a.k.a Opooman threatened that, if the President forces Stephen Amoah to step down, then the NPP must brace itself for a massive breakaway from the party and expect that, the incumbent, Kennedy Kankam who the President and the party Chairman, Joe Cad wants to impose on the constituents, would face an independent candidate in the election.
“Sticka is not the only government appointee vying to become an MP, so if the President says he should step down for Kankam, then he must as well tell all of his other appointees including Asenso Boakye and John Kumah to step down from the Bantama and Ejisu races respectively; we have suffered for this party and we will not be forced to support anybody against our will; they should open the contest if they are sure that Kankam has done his work well”, Opooman fumed.
Though he said his allegations are based on rumours, he was sure that President Akufo Addo has indeed made the order through the party’s 2nd National Vice Chairman, Mr F.F. Anto.
But the Nhyiaeso Constituency Chairman of the NPP, Joe Cad who also spoke on the show debunked the allegations and said that he would be personally worried if Stephen Amoah decides not to or forced out from the contest because he is sure that, he would lose even if he’s given a level playing field against the incumbent, Kennedy Kankam.
“I don’t like him because he doesn’t listen to advise and always wants to do things his own way but Kennedy Kankam is my own boy; he deserves to be in Parliament because he has served the party and executed his mandate very impressively; I’m calling on the President and other elders in the party to allow Stephen Amoah to go for this contest; I don’t like it that they say he should step down, they should let him contest and he would see his real size”, Joe Cad said.
The CEO of MASLOC, Stephen Amoah who walked into the studio in the course of the show actually confirmed to Kwame Tanko, host of Angel In The Morning that, the President has indeed asked him to step down and that his decision to do so or not would depend on the attitude of Kennedy Kankam and his followers.
“It is true; the President has asked me to step down from the race and I cannot do the contrary but I have spoken with some elders to consult him to change his decision; he is my father and I have no right to talk back at him or do anything against his wish, but what Chairman Joe Cad has said this morning has changed the conversation. I will send his tape to the President and tell him that they say they want a contest, so he should not deem it disrespectful if he hears that I didn’t step down”; Sticka said.
Independent checks by MyNewsGh.com in the Nhyiaeso Constituency suggests that, the incumbent MP, Kennedy Kankam has become unpopular in his very first tenure; constituents say he is disrespectful and largely absent when he is being sought; many are clamouring for a change or they vote “skirt and blouse”.
Up to 400 delegates of the party have signed a petition to be presented to the President to urge him to rescind his decision to cause Hon. Kennedy Kankam to go unopposed.
Source:MyNewsGh.com/Teddy Brown Onimbede/2020
