Former Majority Leader and Suame MP, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has opened up about the internal politics within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that led to his resignation, paving the way for Alexander Afenyo-Markin to assume the role.
Speaking on Asempa FM on Tuesday, March 4, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu disclosed that he had prior knowledge of President Akufo-Addo’s decision to remove him from the position.
“Some of my colleagues, about 80 MPs, informed me in advance that the president wanted me out. Many MPs encouraged me to fight back, assuring me of their support,” he stated.
However, he opted to resign to prevent further divisions within the party. “I didn’t want to be at the center of any storm in the party. I felt I had done enough, so I decided to step down,” he explained.
He recounted that President Akufo-Addo held an emergency meeting before the elections when former President John Dramani Mahama had yet to announce his running mate.
According to Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the president was concerned about the NPP’s diminishing influence in the Central Region and the need for a leader who could strengthen their position.
“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 said.
He further noted that Akufo-Addo considered Afenyo-Markin, who hails from the Central Region, as a strategic choice to counter the NDC’s growing influence.
“Most MPs disagreed with this approach, but I saw where things were heading. Rather than complicate matters, I stepped aside,” he concluded.
