A fierce political backlash has greeted calls by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Volta Region for the removal of Sammy Gyamfi, with Japhet Festus Gbede, a vibrant and outspoken member of the NDC Volta Regional Communications Team, describing the demand as a display of “audacious hypocrisy” from a party battling serious internal organisational challenges.
In a strongly worded Facebook statement, Mr. Gbede described the NPP Volta Regional structure as “fractured, confused, disorganised, dysfunctional, directionless and politically rudderless,” arguing that the party has no moral authority to position itself as a referee on governance while struggling with serious internal organisational problems.
According to Mr. Gbede, 11 out of the 18 constituencies reportedly could not participate in the recently held NPP Volta Regional elections due to concerns over the manipulation of the electoral album and the criminalisation of the polling-station electoral process.
He also argued that the situation raises serious questions about the credibility and organisational capacity of the NPP in the volta region, particularly when a significant number of its constituencies were reportedly unable to take part in an election intended to strengthen the party’s regional structures.
Mr. Gbede further pointed to the internal disagreements within the party, citing the public decision by the NPP Volta Regional Secretariat to nullify appointments made by its own Regional Chairman as another indication of the divisions and confusion within the regional structure.
“A party that cannot fix its own album, cannot organise its own elections, and cannot keep its own regional executives on the same page is demanding Sammy Gyamfi’s removal? This is audacious hypocrisy, spectacular incompetence and breathtaking self-delusion,” Mr. Gbede stated.
The NDC communicator also questioned the basis of the NPP’s argument surrounding the reported US$1.7 billion loss associated with the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.
Mr. Gbede challenged the NPP’s attempt to make the GoldBod controversy the basis for demanding the removal of Sammy Gyamfi.
“And who even told them Sammy Gyamfi made a loss at GoldBod?” he asked.
He argued that before the NPP Volta Region assumes the position of a moral referee on accountability, it must first confront the issues and controversies that characterised its own period in government.
‘When did NPP become allergic to losses?’
Turning the spotlight on the NPP’s record, Mr. Gbede referenced the GH¢26.945 billion spent on the financial-sector clean-up, the GH¢1.436 billion in SML payments which the Office of the Special Prosecutor has linked to financial loss to the state, as well as figures cited by Sammy Gyamfi concerning GH¢8.2 billion in ECG losses and GH¢3.3 billion at Ghana Water during periods when Afenyo-Markin chaired their respective boards.
He questioned whether the NPP mounted the same level of pressure and political theatre over those matters when it was in government.
“And when did the NPP become so allergic to losses? Have they forgotten the GH¢26.945 billion spent on the financial-sector clean-up, the GH¢1.436 billion in SML payments, the GH¢8.2 billion ECG figure or the GH¢3.3 billion Ghana Water figure cited by Sammy Gyamfi?” he asked.
“Did they organise this same circus demanding accountability then? Challey, before preaching about losses, they should first confront their own record!” Mr. Gbede added.
Mr. Gbede maintained that the NPP Volta Region should concentrate on resolving its own organisational challenges, strengthening internal cohesion and restoring confidence in its electoral processes instead of attempting to dictate who should or should not serve in the NDC administration.
He insisted that a political organisation struggling with internal divisions, disputed electoral processes and disagreements among its own executives cannot credibly present itself as the moral authority on governance, accountability and institutional discipline.
“Before preaching about losses, accountability and institutional discipline, they should clean up their own political house first,” Mr. Gbede stated.
Read the full statement below:
The absolute, unmitigated audacity of the NPP Volta Region demanding Sammy Gyamfi’s removal would be hilarious if it weren’t so embarrassingly pathetic! Here is a fractured, confused, disorganised, dysfunctional, directionless and politically rudderless regional party structure where 11 out of 18 constituencies reportedly could not participate in their recently held regional elections due to concerns over album manipulation and the criminalisation of the polling station electoral process, and whose own Regional Secretariat publicly nullified appointments made by its Chairman because the party is clearly not united. Yet, this chaotic, divided, internally conflicted and scandalously disoriented outfit has suddenly appointed itself the moral referee of Ghanaian governance. Challey, the hypocrisy is deafening!
A party that cannot fix its own album, cannot organise its own elections, and cannot keep its own regional executives on the same page is demanding Sammy Gyamfi’s removal? This is audacious hypocrisy, spectacular incompetence and breathtaking self-delusion. Before the NPP Volta Region lectures anyone about accountability, governance or institutional discipline, they should clean up their own political ass first.
And who even told them Sammy Gyamfi made a loss at GoldBod?
And when did the NPP become so allergic to losses? Have they forgotten the GH¢26.945 billion spent on the financial-sector clean-up, the GH¢1.436 billion in SML payments which the OSP said resulted in financial loss to the state, or the figures cited by auditor general of GH¢8.2 billion in ECG losses and GH¢3.3 billion at Ghana Water during periods Afenyo-Markin chaired their boards? Did they organise this same circus demanding accountability then? Challey, before preaching about losses, they should first confront their own record!