The internal dissent within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that led to the “Ken Must Go” protest against former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been attributed to President Nana Akufo-Addo’s refusal to engage his party’s legislators, according to Subin MP Eugene Boakye Antwi.
Speaking on Metro TV on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, Antwi detailed how frustrations over Akufo-Addo’s statements and the President’s reluctance to meet with concerned MPs culminated in the public demand for Ofori-Atta’s dismissal.
The Genesis of Discontent
Antwi recounted an incident in which President Akufo-Addo, during a live interview on Otec Radio, dismissed concerns raised by the chiefs of Kwabre in the Ashanti Region over the lack of quality roads. The chiefs, representing a constituency that had delivered significant votes for the NPP, had labelled the government “ungrateful.”
Reacting to the chiefs’ criticism, Akufo-Addo reportedly said, “Your thumb is yours; you can vote for the NDC if you want.” The statement, which the President repeated, shocked party members.
“I was watching live, and I asked myself if this was a slip of the tongue. But it wasn’t,” Antwi said, adding that the remark sent ripples of frustration through the party’s ranks.
Attempted Engagement with Akufo-Addo
Antwi revealed that efforts by a group of 42 MPs to meet the President discreetly were rebuffed. He noted that this snub was partly due to lingering tensions over the Speaker election in the 8th Parliament, where some NPP MPs had voted against the party’s candidate, Prof. Mike Oquaye.
“We wanted to see him and have a discussion concerning some of the things he had been saying. He may not run again, but we have elections to win as a party. We couldn’t meet our President… his own MPs couldn’t meet him,” Antwi lamented.
The Role of Ken Ofori-Atta
The Subin MP also pointed to President Akufo-Addo’s decision to retain Ken Ofori-Atta as Finance Minister despite mounting criticism of his economic management as a significant misstep.
Antwi revealed that a bloc of 90 NPP MPs had petitioned the President to remove Ofori-Atta, citing public discontent over economic hardships. The Minister, however, remained in office until February 2024, a decision Antwi believes played a crucial role in the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 General Election.
“The failure to act decisively alienated voters and led to widespread apathy,” Antwi said, emphasizing that nearly six million registered voters abstained from voting due to frustrations with the government.
Lessons for the Party
Reflecting on the electoral loss, Antwi stressed the need for introspection within the NPP. He argued that neglecting internal party grievances and public outcry could jeopardize the party’s future electoral prospects.
The revelations underline the challenges facing the NPP as it seeks to rebuild trust among the party faithful and the electorate. For many, the events leading to the “Ken Must Go” protest serve as a cautionary tale of the risks of ignoring both internal and external dissent.
NPP needs open heart surgery – Angry Subin MP blames Ofori-Atta, Akufo-Addo, Gabby Otchere-Darko and more for election defeat#GoodMorningGhana #MetroTV pic.twitter.com/aaAbFKeDpO
— Metro TV Ghana (@metrotvgh) December 10, 2024
