RE: KYEI-MENSAH-BONSU IS “ENGAGED IN TRIBAL AND RELIGIOUSPOLITICS”
The attention of the office of the MP for Suame and the Majority Leader has
been drawn to a spirited attack on the person of Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu,
the Leader of Government Business and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs,
mounted by Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, the Honourable MP for Assin North
and who is one of the remaining four Presidential hopefuls for the NPP. Mr
Ohene Agyapong at his rally at the Jubilee Park in Kumasi asserted that the
Majority Leader, whilst playing a lead role in the campaign to elect the Vice
President, H.E. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumiah is resorting to “tribal and religious
politics”.
The office of the Majority Leader responds as follows:
1) That nothing can be farther away from the truth as the statement made
by the MP for Assin North relating to the conduct of Hon Osei Kyei-
Mensah-Bonsu indicated.
2) The character trait of Hon Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu is truthfulness,
pragmatism and realism and these have always guided and guarded his
statements, discussions and conversations. His discourses are wellreasoned;
not philippic, in other words, not statements that bitterly
attack other persons; or petulant, that is, ill-tempered or peevish; or
populist.
3) Also, the Majority Leader has not condoned or connived with anybody to
“hijack the party”. On the other hand, he, together with others at the
National Executive Committee and National Council, stood firmly and
thwarted attempts by some of the presidential hopefuls to set aside
clearly stated, unambiguous provisions of the NPP Constitution. If that
amounts to “hijacking” or “intimidation” or “collapsing the party”, in the
opinion of Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, then it can only be described
as unfortunate.
4) Dr Mahamudu Bawumiah, the Vice President, is not known for
bellicosity, belligerence or hot-headedness. He does not spew vitriol.
He is well focused. On his rounds he has never attacked any of the
contestants. He speaks to his own track-record in the party, his
experience and his vision to reposition the party and the economy. He
does not issue and has not issued any threats to anybody, including, in
particular, any officer of the party at any level. Dr Mahamudu Bawumiah
is a lamb who has exhibited long-suffering and preaches peace. It is for
these traits that people like Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu as well as the
over 130 Members of Parliament have aligned with him.
Notwithstanding, if Mr Ken Ohene Agyapong, the Honourable Member
for Assin North, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence
and Interior and a Presidential hopeful for the NPP has any mustardseed
evidence of “intimidation or coercion”, or “party-collapsing
adventures” on the part of Dr Mahamudu Bawumiah, or “any tribal or
religious politics” on the part of Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the
Honourable Majority Leader, let him (Mr Ohene Agyapong) bring the
pieces out for redress in the supreme interest of the party.
5) The Majority Leader is very much aware of the fragility of the NPP
Majority Caucus in Parliament and that is why he is very circumspect in
his response to naked and blatant attacks.
In this regard, the Leader has always been mindful of his language and,
accordingly, he entreats all in the NPP family to recognize that the endeavour
to select a Presidential Candidate (not merely a Flagbearer) is a family contest
and not a do-or-die battle. Pursuant to that, the Majority Leader strongly
insists nothing should be done or encouraged that has the potential to impede
or forestall unity within the rank and file of the party, after November 4, 2023.
Thank you.
Source – Office of the Majority Leader / MP – Suame
