A founding member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe is raising red flags over tendencies in the opposition party that are giving credence to suspicions that the NPP is an Akan party.
In an interview with The Graphic, a national newspaper, Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe raised questions over the composition of the recent vetting committee of the party to vet aspiring leaders vying for various positions ahead of the 2016 elections.
He was categorical in his assertion that the composition of the committee was too Akan in nature and its decision to reject he nominations of some candidates further tags the NPP as Akan party by those who have that perception.
He disclosed that he committee was 85% Akan and three (3) of the candidates that have been disqualified so far are all of Northern descent. “This reinforces the huge perception in the public domain that the party is Akan-dominated,” he stated
“You come out with a composition of members of a vetting committee such that when the results are out, it will be acceptable by all because it is deemed to be a fair and balanced committee,” Dr. Nyaho Tamakloe advised.
The vetting committee is chaired by Mr. C.K. Tedem, with Rev. Dr. Asante Antwi, Dr. Adjei Bawuah, Brig. Gen. Joseph Odei (rtd) and Mr. Kwabena Sarpong as members. Others are: Madam Cecilia Dapaah, Mrs. Catherine Afeku, Mr. Ayikoi Otoo and Mr. Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah as Secretary to the committee.
The committee disqualified Fred Amankwah Sarfo, Hajia Fatima and Philomena Serwah Akoto (who were all vying for the Vice-Chairmanship position); Kamal Abdulai (who was contesting the position of Nasara Coordinator) and a fifth person who has not been named. They have until Monday, February 17, 2014, to appeal against the decision of the vetting committee.
The renowned NPP leader wondered how the party could form a vetting committee without the likes of Odoi Sykes, Sammy Okudzeto, Roland Alhassan, Gladys Asmah, Appiah Menkah, ex-President J. A. Kufuor, Kwame Pianim, Donkor Fordjour and Cecilia Bannerman.
He declared, “What is happening now in our party? The way affairs are being handled leaves much to be desired. If care is not taken, they will destroy the party before our very own eyes,” adding that, “What is going on at the moment is very very disturbing and worrying and must be handled very very carefully.
He observed that, “for some time now, many of the senior members of the party have been sidelined for their selfish interest and the few who want to participate in the affairs of the party are being at tacked anytime they want to contribute”.
Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe’s comments come in the stream of series of public utterances by leading members of the party against the ‘Akanism’ in the NPP.
Lawyer Ayikoi Otoo, a former Attorney General under the Kufuor regime, made similar comments about the sidelining of non-Akans in the party, warning that he trend was not in the interest of cohesion in the party.
Ayikoi Otoo, who was speaking in an interview on radio during his campaign for the chairmanship of the party, advised the party to wean itself off the Akan accolade that is driving some people away from the party.