It is five months since Paul Awentami Afoko assumed the national chairmanship of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on April 12, 2014. Since then, the party has been inundated with problems. There seems
to be no end to internal squabbles, and the NPP is struggling to nip in the bud deep-seated mistrust, suspicion, accusations and counter-accusations by leading members of the party. This has led to
discomfort and frustration of not only ordinary members and supporters of the party but also many Ghanaians as a whole.
Daily Graphic’s Political Editor, Kobby Asmah, caught up with Mr Afoko in Accra and the following ensued in an exclusive interview on the journey so far as National Chairman of the NPP.
Kobby Asmah (KA): What has been the journey so far concerning your current position as National Chairman of the largest opposition political party in the country?
Paul Awentami Afoko (PAA): Assuming the chairmanship of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was not rosy at all. It was tortuous, gruelling and full of drama. You will recall that in the run-up to the Tamale
Conference, I suffered several indignities, name calling and numerous allegations culminating in a request by my own party for an Interpol Report on me. But thanks to the executive of this great party, they
read through the lines and reposed their confidence in me and voted massively for me to become the first National Chairman of our party from the northern part of our country.
KA: What have been the challenges so far?
PAA. Since I returned from Tamale, those who vowed to not see an Afoko chairmanship have not relented in their efforts as they have persisted in their campaign of vilification and in some cases, they have
cunningly recruited some of my own brothers to carry out their dirty work. No week passes without one falsehood or another being fabricated against my person and office. All this while, I have kept my
calm for the sake of the party and in the hope that these people will quickly realise that no one will come out a winner if we all insist on this destructive path of politics.
KA: Your First Vice and the Northern Regional Chairman were on radio with some very unpalatable words for you and the General Secretary. How do you respond?
PAA: Kobby, we have gone past that. These are matters for internal resolution and not the media.
KA: Do you have space to work or you think your chairmanship is being undermined?
PAA: I will say that there are challenges, but we will ride over the storm and the NPP will be the ultimate winner, I can assure you.
KA: So how are you working to ensure unity within party ranks as well as restore confidence, transparency and trust in party affairs.?
PAA: All this time, I have remained focused and working behind the scenes to deliver to NPP members and supporters what I promised them during my campaign and that is power in 2016 irrespective of
who becomes our presidential candidate. As National Chairman of this party, I will continue to demonstrate forbearance and total leadership on all fronts. I have come into this office for only one thing i.e.
power in 2016 and I am committed to it.
KA: There is this perception gaining grounds that you campaigned on the wings of the popularity of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the 2012 Presidential Candidate of the NPP, to win the chairman
position. Any comment?
PAA: In the last few weeks, however, two falsehoods against me have caught my attention. Initially, I decided to brush these falsehoods aside as the usual political mischief that did not deserve my
attention. Unfortunately, the originators of these falsehoods have persisted in repeating them and now these falsehoods are gaining grounds to the extent that some respectable senior media personnel are
beginning to repeat these falsehoods as though it is the gospel truth.
The first falsehood is that I PAUL AFOKO campaigned on the popularity of our 2012 Presidential Candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. I want to make it categorically clear that nothing could be
further from the TRUTH. Every NPP executive across the length and breadth of this country knows that I campaigned on the platform of NEUTRALITY. On every occasion, I reminded delegates that I will not
back any candidate and that I will stay neutral and let the executive choose for me their presidential candidate. I said any one they chose for me I would work hard with them to make that person President
of the Republic of Ghana come 2017. My campaign message was very loud and clear and every party executive would attest to this. How this simple message can be interpreted to mean that I campaigned
on the popularity of one aspirant baffles me and I know it will baffle the delegates too.
The second and most recent falsehood is that I displayed my ballot paper for all to see during the recent Special Delegates Conference. This too is NOT TRUE. This falsehood is one of the several thrown
out there and latched upon to undermine my authority. I understand and respect the laws of our country and the integrity of a secret ballot. Therefore, I could not have displayed my ballot paper before
casting it. THAT IS SIMPLY FALSE.
KA: What legacy are you hoping to leave behind as chairman of the NPP?
PAA:in fact, I belief in the sanctity of our democratic process that prompted me to set an example to vote at the Special Electoral College to encourage all to participate.
Let me remind all of us in the NPP that we have a huge task ahead of us and a huge responsibility to rescue this nation from the current mess the NDC has thrown us into. We cannot rescue this country if
we attempt any divide and rule tactics. A dig at any party member is a dig at the whole party and will slow our march into the Jubilee House come 2017.
I am calling for nothing short of unity and solidarity among all ranks and a collective purposeful action towards wresting and winning political power come the 2016 election and future elections. If I succeed in
this enterprise, I will consider it a goal come true.
