Andy Appiah-Kubi, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante Akim North, has angered Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and certain NPP members in the Ashanti Region by discrediting the rumoured selection of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh as Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s running mate in the December 7 elections.
On Accra-based Joy FM on Thursday, June 27, 2024, Mr Appiah-Kubi launched into a furious tirade against Dr Opoku Prempeh a.k.a. Napo, and also virtually criticized Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for selecting the Manhyia South MP as his running mate.
“I wouldn’t speak to a majority because we have not been consulted as a caucus for us to state our position. But for me Appiah-Kubi, you can solicit my view on that. If it were up to me to choose, I wouldn’t choose him ( Napo). He is not my preference,” the Asante Akim North MP said angrily.
Expressing his disappointment with the outburst of the Asante Akim North MP, Mr Afenyo-Markin told reporters in Parliament House on Thursday June 27 that, as Majority MPs, they all know how running mates are chosen in the party.
“We should all respect party rules.You cannot go out of your way to describe your colleague in a manner that is unacceptable,” he charged
He, therefore urged his colleague Asante Akim North MP to be measured in his language especially, in public .
“We are in this together. There is no perfect person in this world. Let us be measured in the language we use.
“The flagbearer has the confidence of the party and I believe he will use the structures of the party in taking his decisions,” he stated.
Concerned NPP Members in Ashanti Region, a group that has demanded for quick action against the MP due to his vitriolic remarks, were also displeased.
Calling him to order, the group addressed the national leadership of the party as well as the parliamentary Majority of the NPP.
According to them, this was typical of the Asante Akim North MP, as he disrespected Napo, the president, the vice president, and the party as a whole in addition to showing extreme contempt to Napo.
After it became known that Dr. Bawumia had submitted Napo’s name to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as his preferred running mate, they accused Mr. Appiah-Kubi of working for Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, who is reportedly unhappy about Napo’s selection and has hatched a scheme to discredit the Energy Minister.
Members of the Ashanti NPP who expressed concern about Napo’s candidature said that he was a great pick and could help the party and the flagbearer win big in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in addition to serving as a capable vice president.
Looking back at the past, the Concerned NPP members said that although some party members objected to then-candidate Akufo-Addo’s selection of Dr. Bawumia as his running mate, he ultimately proved his detractors wrong by helping to lead the party to victories in 2016 and 2020 and emerging as an exceptionally competent vice president.
The group, therefore, urged the party to take a serious view on the Asante Akim North MP’s outburst to stop him from derailing the agenda to break the 8.