Former Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Suame, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has opened up about the internal politics within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that led to his removal from office.
His departure paved the way for Alexander Afenyo-Markin to take over the role.
During an interview on Asempa FM on Tuesday, March 4, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu disclosed that he had received prior warnings about President Akufo-Addo’s plan to replace him.
“Some of my colleagues, about 80 MPs, informed me ahead of time that the president wanted me out. Many MPs encouraged me to fight back, assuring me of their support,” he revealed.
Despite the backing from his colleagues, he decided to step aside to prevent further divisions within the party.
“I didn’t want to be the eye of any storm in the party. I felt I had had enough, so I decided to resign and I said it there and then,” he stated.
Recalling the events leading up to his resignation, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu mentioned an emergency meeting convened by President Akufo-Addo before the elections, at a time when former President John Dramani Mahama had yet to name his running mate.
According to him, the president was concerned about the NPP’s declining influence in the Central Region and sought a leader who could strengthen the party’s position in that area.
“The president argued that the NDC was gaining ground in the Central Region, especially with Naana Opoku-Agyemang likely to be Mahama’s running mate and Ato Forson taking up the Minority Leader position,” he stated.
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu further explained that President Akufo-Addo viewed Afenyo-Markin, a native of the Central Region, as the best candidate to counter the NDC’s growing presence there.
“Most MPs disagreed with this reasoning, but I saw where things were headed. Rather than make things more complicated, I stepped aside,” he added.
