Anti-Napo sentiment: Afenyo-Markin was only expressing an opinion - Appiah-Kubi hits back
29th June 2024
Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante Akim North, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, has reacted to comments by Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin relative to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) rumoured choice of 2024 running mate.
In the first comment by an NPP MP on reports that Matthew Opoku Prempeh was the choice of running mate for NPP flagbearer, Mahamudu Bawumia, Appiah-Kubi told Accra-based Joy FM on Thursday, June 27, 2024, that he would have opted for someone other than Opoku Prempeh, alias NAPO.
"I wouldn't speak for the majority because we have not been consulted as a caucus 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.
Majority Leader Disappointed in Appiah-Kubi
Expressing his disappointment with the comments by the Asante Akim North MP, Mr. Afenyo-Markin told reporters at 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.
"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 making his decisions," he stated.
In an interview on Accra-based Onua FM (June 28) Appiah-Kubi launched a reply at the Majority Leader.
"Afenyo-Markin only expressed an opinion with a condition (that MPs should keep their views for now) but he knew that his position was not going to be sacrosanct.
"So he knows, everyone is entitled to an opinion, so he was very cautious. Allow Bawumia to exercise his authority, then we would all comment," he said stressing that Bawumia has not to the best of his knowledge announced any running mate.
"Leave him to of his own will elect a running mate and let the National Council make a pronouncement so that we can all speak to it. The advertisements are unnecessary," he launched at the media especially.