By Makay
A leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Richard Winfred Anane, has claimed former President Akufo-Addo and the Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin masterminded his removal from Parliament.
According to Dr Richard Winfred Anane, he overheard a scheme that was hatched against him to get him removed from parliament.
He recounted that during the conversation, Akufo-Addo noted the NPP were going to win the election, and if he (Dr Anane) was still in parliament, he would have to give him an appointment.
Speaking on Abusua FM, Dr Richard Anane recounted a conversation, “They were at Akoto house and they stated if Dr Anane comes to parliament this election, we are going to win, and if we win and Dr Anane is in parliament, I have to give him a post, so if they can, they should do something so he leaves parliament for me not to give him an appointment. They are not important to me”.
When asked if his rejection was engineered by Akufo-Addo, he responded, “Yes, I know he cannot say anything”.
He further added, “The Okyehene was also involved; you people don’t know a lot of things, it is not good. The question I ask myself is that you are the Okyehene, and I am also from Kumasi, if there is something he has to speak to the Otumfuo”.
Dr Richard Anane served as a Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso in the Ashanti Region and was also a one-time Minister of Roads and Highways as well as Health, under former President John Agyekum Kufuor’s administration.
In that same interview, Dr Richard Winfred Anane, has said Abronye DC confronted and disrespected former President John Agyekum Kufuor during a meeting with party executives.
According to Dr Anane, the meeting, which took place about a week ago, was attended by senior party officials, including former President Kufuor.
He explained that during the meeting, Kufuor expressed his displeasure with the party’s “top-bottom approach” by electing a presidential candidate first before the national executive.
Kufuor argued that such a strategy was not beneficial to the NPP’s unity and effectiveness.
Speaking in an interview on Kasapa FM, Dr Richard Winfred Anane stated, “Normally, we don’t bring party matters outside, but I will say this, about a week ago, the party had a meeting, and President Kufuor attended. He told them about the top-bottom approach, asserting that it is not a good idea.”
He revealed that Kufuor emphasised the national chairman had not been very active for certain reasons, urging the party to allow those who want to be chairman of the party to lead the party back on track.
Kufuor urged the leadership to foster collaboration among all chairpersons to strengthen the party’s structure.
Dr Anane revealed Abronye DC reacted disrespectfully to the former President’s comments during the meeting.
He added, “Do you know who reacted? The Bono Chairman, Abronye. Where was Abronye when we formed the party?”
“He said Kufuor had mentioned Paul Afoko’s name and that… what does he mean…the acting chairman had to apologise and several people present condemned Abronye’s utterances. Where the man has reached in life, has Abronye been there before?”
However, Danquah Smith Butey, the Acting National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has refuted claims made by Dr Richard Anane suggesting that Kwame Baffoe (Abronye DC) insulted former President John Agyekum Kufuor during a recent party meeting.
According to him, the reports are misleading, and he further criticised Dr Richard Anane for publicising the issue.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Danquah Smith Butey stated, “It wasn’t that Abronye disrespected President Kufuor. The misunderstanding arose from a meeting where the former President made some proposals. It’s an in-house matter that should never have been made public”>
“Abronye did not insult President Kufuor. He constantly referred to him as his in-law during the discussion. If he had insulted him, I would never have tolerated it,” he stressed.
