Samuel Adu Gyamfi, a professor at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has stated that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer candidates were not coerced into signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) promising to stay committed and active party members following Saturday’s election.
He said it would be surprising to think that the candidates were forced to sign the document considering their prominence and influence.
“In my opinion, they did not use any coercive force to compel any of these gentlemen, who are of stature or influence in their own right, to simply sign a document they have not read in full or comprehend what is contained in there.
“Assuming that these gentlemen signed the specific document under coercion or stress would be unexpected. Their understanding of the politics they have been involved in and the way they frame their thoughts lead me to believe that they recognize the necessity of signing this document.
“Nevertheless, it’s crucial to consider the procedure as well. These gentlemen may have signed because, in the event that they did not, they would have been perceived as people who would prefer to stir up trouble or mischief on election day or in the days following elections. They thus felt compelled, in some way, to appear and sign.”
The signing of the MoU followed a meeting with the Council of Elders of the party on Thursday, November 2.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central Constituency, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, former Minister of Food and Agriculture Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto and former Mampong MP Francis Addai-Nimoh, in that particular order on the ballot paper, were at the meeting in the company of their witnesses.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo also joined the Council to address the aspirants, a couple of days to the primaries.
Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, the chairman of the council, counseled the candidates not to let the results of the exercise on Saturday derail them.
“I know it’s not always easy to forgive and forget the most offensive abuses in losing an election,” he remarked.
“There might be more challenges and jeers in the journey. All elections have this nature, but we shouldn’t let the most intense suffering break us. This is the only way that, in this shifting political environment, our party can stay relevant.
“We must keep in mind that while November 4th may come and go and only serve as a memory, the NPP will endure for a very long time if we do not allow our actions to destroy it.”
The meeting was also attended by the party’s general secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, and national chairman, Stephen Ayesu Ntim.
The four signed the Memorandum of Understanding following their private talks.
Point 1 stated, “We commit ourselves to accept the results of the NPP Presidential Primary election on November 4, 2023, and we will respect the outcome regardless of the result.”
“We commit to cooperating to uphold harmony and unity within the NPP both before and after the primary election. We will not participate in any behavior or speech that could jeopardize party cohesion.
“We promise that we won’t quit or leave the NPP, no matter how the primary election turns out. We will continue to be engaged and committed party members.” Stated in point 3.
This is anticipated to avoid the events that followed the Super Delegates Conference on August 26, when Alan Kyerematen, the third-place finisher, resigned from the party. Since then, he has established a movement called Movement for Change in an effort to run as an independent in the 2024 elections.
Mr. Agyapong, a candidate, has threatened to follow suit if procedures on election day favor certain candidates—the same justification Mr. Kyerematen gave for his resignation.
The four candidates are bound by the MoU until the party announces the flagbearer.
Source: Ghana360news.com
