The Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has intervened in a recent internal party strife within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over the selection of a running mate for the party’s flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
Addressing the controversy sparked by Asante Akim North MP Andy Appiah-Kubi’s remarks regarding the potential selection of Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh as Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia’s running mate, Afenyo-Markin stressed unity and mutual respect among party members.
“We should all respect party rules. You cannot go out of your way to describe your colleague in an unacceptable manner,” he asserted, highlighting the importance of measured language in intra-party discussions.
The Asante Akim North MP had expressed reservations about Dr Opoku Prempeh’s acceptability across the NPP base, particularly among MPs, suggesting potential challenges in his ability to effectively campaign and secure votes in various constituencies.
Oyiwaa 😂From the horse’s own mouth, Arrogant and pompous NAPO won’t submit to Bawumia Bawumia. ~ Andy Appiah-Kubi. They’re warning us just like some people warned us about Nana Akufo-Addo. pic.twitter.com/pcPuQmyUqy
Afenyo-Markin, while acknowledging diverse opinions within the party, reiterated his confidence in the NPP’s leadership and decision-making processes, particularly regarding the selection of a running mate.
“The flagbearer, Dr Bawumia, has the confidence of the party and I believe he will use the structures of the party in making his decisions,” Afenyo-Markin affirmed, underlining the role of established party structures in guiding such crucial decisions.
The Majority Leader’s intervention comes amidst growing internal tensions and debate within the NPP ahead of the upcoming elections, highlighting the delicate balancing act required to maintain party cohesion while navigating differing viewpoints on key strategic decisions.
“We should all respect party rules and understand that the times we are in are sensitive times”
– Afenyo-Markin addressed a presser responding to Appiah-Kubi, he also says no decision has been made on a running mate yet and people must allow the structure of the party to work.… pic.twitter.com/iAZcEpRaz5
Member of Parliament for the Asante Akim-North Constituency, Andy Appiah-Kubi, expressed confidence that Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Justice Godfred Dame would heed the trial judge’s advice and step aside from the ambulance purchase trial.
During the court proceedings on Tuesday and Thursday, Attorney-General Godfred Dame was absent.
However, Deputy Attorney-General Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, present in court on Thursday, declined to confirm whether the Attorney-General had complied with the judge’s strong recommendation to stay away from the case.
Justice Efia Serwah Asare-Botwey, the trial judge, strongly advised Attorney-General Godfred Dame to recuse himself from the ongoing case in the interest of justice and public perception.
After the court ruling on Thursday, June 6, Attorney-General Godfred Dame, speaking to reporters, disregarded the judge’s advice and indicated his intention to continue prosecuting the case.
However, NPP lawmaker Andy Appiah-Kubi, speaking on The Key Points on Saturday, June 15, emphasised that the Attorney-General should have recused himself even before receiving the judge’s advice.
He argued that due to Mr. Dame’s dual role as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, his continued involvement in the case could be viewed as being a judge in his own case.
“This is a criminal trial and knowing yourself as not only the Attorney-General but Minister of Justice… I’m sure you don’t want to be a judge in your own court,” he said.
The Asante Akim-North lawmaker also expressed satisfaction with the trial judge’s advice to the A-G, saying, “That is what any good judge will do.”
He continued, “Indeed, he [Godfred Dame] should not have waited for the judge to advise him to do that. Once you are in a case like that and you have been singled out for the decisions of the court, then it means that you are not as competent as you were before.”
“The best thing for him to have done and I’m sure that the Attorney-General will heed this advice and I’m grateful that the judge also gave the advice.
“In fact, I would have been grateful at that point in time to come to court and say that because of the proceedings, the way the evidence is coming the implications that are bringing me into the matter in person, I recuse myself and then let somebody else come and continue.
“I would have done that but all be it that he didn’t do it and the judge called his attention to it… I am positive he will adhere to that advice and recuse himself,” he stated.
Additionally, Mr Appiah-Kubi criticised the Deputy Attorney-General about his comments on the significance or otherwise of the admissibility of the leaked audio recording between the third accused Richard Jakpa and Godfred Dame.
He described the comments as “unnecessary”, stressing that the admissibility of evidence is based on its relevance; if the trial judge thinks it is relevant, he or she is supported by law to admit it.
Member of Parliament for the Asante Akyem North Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, has declined cooperation with the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
This was revealed by the OSP in a statement.
This decision comes despite the public revelation of bribery allegations made by the MP against an unnamed businessman.
Mr Appiah-Kubi, leading a group of Majority MPs advocating for the dismissal of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, acknowledged in various media interviews throughout 2022 that he and fellow colleagues had received financial offers in Parliament with the intention of persuading them to withdraw their demand.
In its final report on an investigation triggered by a petition from OccupyGhana group, the OSP said Appiah-Kubi and other MPs including the Majority Leader, had refused to give the needed cooperation.
The report was released on Wednesday, 3 January 2024.
According to OccupyGhana, if the allegation of attempted bribery is established, it would amount to an attempt to influence the conduct of Members of Parliament in the course of their official duties.
Hence its petition to the OSP to investigate the affair and to proceed to prosecute if established.
In the report which spanned 8 months, the OSP revealed that: “The investigation showed that circa September 2022, eighty (80) Members of Parliament of the NPP publicly called for the resignation or removal of the Minister for Finance, Mr. Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta over complaints of his inability to properly manage the economy of Ghana. The apparent spokesperson of the group of eighty was Mr. Appiah-Kubi.
“Mr. Appiah-Kubi’s interview was first in time. He stated outrightly that a certain well-known wealthy Ghanaian businessman visited Parliament House on 1 October 2022 and requested a meeting with a section of NPP Members of Parliament.
“He stated that at the meeting the well-known wealthy businessman offered them huge sums of money in envelopes with the intention of influencing them to rescind their demand for the resignation or removal of Mr. Ofori-Atta. He further stated that the Members of Parliament stood their ground and rejected the offer of money. Mr. Appiah-Kubi did not disclose the identity of the well-known wealthy businessman during the interview.”
Despite admitting granting an interview on the Accra-based radio station, Mr Appiah-Kubi declined to reveal the identity of the businessman, the OSP’s report detailed.
“Mr. Appiah-Kubi admitted granting an interview on Joy FM in which he claimed that a certain well-known wealthy Ghanaian businessman visited Parliament House on 1 October 2022 and requested a meeting with a section of NPP Members of Parliament and that the businessman in question had attempted to bribe them.
“However, he declined to watch the audio-visual rendition of his interview on Joy FM. The interview was replayed to him anyway. Thereafter, he effectively invoked his right to remain silent.
“He refused to disclose the identities of the Members of Parliament present at the meeting with the undisclosed businessman. He refused to disclose the identity of the wealthy businessman. He refused to disclose the amount of money offered by the undisclosed businessman. He refused to answer all other questions posed to him.
“Mr. Appiah-Kubi showed open hostility to the authorised officers of the OSP and he was unyielding in his resolve not to cooperate with the investigation.
“Indeed, he flatly refused to cooperate with the OSP, though he had stated that he would fully cooperate with the investigation, and though he declared to the media subsequent to the OSP’s interview that he fully cooperated with the OSP,” the report indicated.
It further revealed that: “Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu denied direct knowledge of the matter. He denied knowledge of the undisclosed wealthy businessman and the amount of money he allegedly offered to the indicated section of Members of Parliament.
It added that Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stated that his “limited knowledge of the matter was based largely on rumours and the interview granted by Mr. Appiah-Kubi on Joy FM.”
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante Akim North, Andy Appiah-Kubi, has expressed confidence that President Akufo-Addo will sign the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill once it is presented to him by Parliament.
The Bill, officially known as the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021, was received and commenced debate in Parliament on July 5th, with Speaker Bagbin presiding over the proceedings.
Appiah-Kubi, who made the initial submission on the Bill, stated that it accurately represented the views of the broader Ghanaian society regarding same-sex relationships, and he believed that all 275 Members of Parliament supported it.
In an interview with Oyerepa FM after the deliberations, he said:
“The clergy, civil society even the Muslim community, so the whole Ghana is unanimous in the rejection of such invitation to engage in LGBT, so the president has no option. He has no option but to assent to the Bill.
“I am very positive and hopeful that the president will assent to it and then we can have it as law” he added.
New Patriotic Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, Andy Appiah-Kubi has disclosed that he will never accept any offer to be a deputy minister.
He said he regrets accepting his previous appointment as deputy Minister for Railway Development.
According to the MP, his experience has led him to decide never to accept another appointment as a deputy minister.
“I will never accept the position of deputy minister again. I made a mistake of accepting such a position and I will not do that again. I didn’t get the opportunity to exhibit my talent” he is quoted in a report by 3news,com.
The MP was reacting to the recent announcement of some ministerial nomination by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The president on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, announced the nomination of Adansi Asokwa MP, KT Hammond as Minister for Trade pending approval by Parliament.
Abetifi MP, Bryan Acheampong has been named as the Minister of Food and Agriculture. Former Director-General (DG) of the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA) Stephen Asamoah Boateng (Asa B) is heading to Chieftaincy Ministry whereas Stephen Amoah, Nhyiaeso MP is now deputy minister-designate for Trade and Industry.
Also, Dr. Mohammed Amin Anta has been named as Minister of State for Finance replacing Charles Adu Boahen, and Hebert Krapah, who was deputy minister at the Trade Ministry has been moved to the Energy Ministry as deputy minister-designate.
The announcement by the president comes at a time when there are growing public calls for changes in the government.
Speaking in a 3FM interview, Andy Appiah-Kubi noted that he wished the president would have merged some of his ministries.
