The New Patriotic Party’s United States (US) Cincinnati Ohio Chapter has described the Member of Parliament (MP) for Suame, Mr Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu tribal comment as “trash” and one that is intended to cause confusion and divisions in the Party.

The chapter’s statement is in response to the NPP 1st Vice Chairman’s statement that the party should not choose an Akan to lead the party in 2024 general elections.

However, a leading member of the NPP US Cincinnati Ohio Chapter, Mr Owusu Afriyie speaking with NewstimesGh in an interview said, a very experienced politician like Osei Kyei Mensah should have known better, he should not have made that tribal pronouncement at all because it is intended to cause confusion and disturbances in the NPP and Ghana as a whole.

“Osei Kyei Mensah, a very grown politician like him shouldn’t have made that needless tribal statement. I respect him so much but I think he should have reserved that trash because his comment is going to cause confusion and enmity in the NPP and Ghana as a whole,” Mr Owusu Afriyie delivered.

According to him, the NPP believes in democracy therefore allows competent members but not tribes to contest for portfolios.
He added that the 2024 flagbearership contest should be made open to all competent candidates to compete and not Northerners only.

“The 2024 NPP flagbearership position is not about tribalism, it’s not about race however any competent person who fit that position can contest.”
Arguably, he revealed that, Osei Kyei Mensah fears that if the flagbearership race is made open, Allan Kyerematen will triumph over Dr. Bawumia hence his quick to react tribal comment.
“Kyei Mensah is a coward, he knows that Bawumia can’t stand Allan hence his tribal comment. He made it out of fear.”

Mr Owusu Afriyie further stated that the tribal faction in the NPP is not right and if not curtailed, it will trigger enmity in the country and the party will go to opposition in 2024.

For this reason, NPP executives and members should be careful on some utterances in order not to spark confusion and divisions. The executives should allow every qualified party member to contest for the 2024 flagbearership position to parade peace in the party.

By: Joseph Marfo