Source: newsthemegh.com
STATEMENT BY MR. B. J. da ROCHA IN RESPONSE TO MR. ALAN KYEREMATENG’S STATEMENT OF APRIL 24, 2008
Mr. Kyeremateng’s statement has come as a surprise to me, after he had written to the chairman of the party resigning his membership. I was approached through the general secretary of the party, Nana Ohene Ntow to act as a mediator and see whether he could be persuaded to change his mind. I had two meetings with Mr. Kyeremateng, both of which the General Secretary was present. Both meetings were held in a very cordial atmosphere. I told Mr. Kyeremateng that he should not have written a letter of resignation. He stated at length that there were certain fundamental issues which had propelled him to resign and unless these were addressed, he would stand by his decision to quit.
My advice to him was that he should rescind his decisions to resign unconditionally and thereafter, whatever his concerns were could be addressed. He said while he respected my opinion and advice, he could not agree with me, indicated that in the middle of election campaign, the party could not find time literally to arbitrate what he saw as a dispute between him and the party. I suggested to him that many within the party would interpret his action as lack of loyalty and commitment to the party. His response was that, if anybody thought so, so be it.
Our second meeting of Tuesday, 23rd April, 2008 was closed with a proposal by me that I will report the outcome of our meeting to the national executive for that body to take a decision whether it will satisfy his conditions for returning to the party or whether it will simply accept his resignation. At the time of our meeting, the chairman was out of the country as Mr. Kyeremateng was aware of it. It was understood that no public statement should emanate from either of us until I have made my report to the national executive, which I could submit only after the national chairman had returned. I was surprised therefore that Mr. Kyeremateng should have issued this sort of statement which he issued yesterday. I feel bound to say a few things about Mr. Kyeremateng’s behavior in this matter.
First, I am not convinced that the matters he complained about are so grave, so earth-shaking as to make a loyal member of the party quit it summarily and unceremoniously, and I told him so. These complaints are like flea bites compared with what many loyal members of the party have suffered and endured in the past without even contemplating leaving the party.
Secondly, I think it will be a very bad and dangerous precedent for the NPP to allow any member to dictate to the party, the terms on which he will continue to be a member. I think Mr. Kyeremateng is bluffing the party. The party should not tolerate such bluff.
Thirdly, the concluding part of Mr. Alan Kyeremateng’s statement is pregnant with meaning. I quote it “we must also not lose sight of the fact that national interest is superior to the interest of any single party. In this regard, I will soon give a firm indication about the role that I expect to play on the political landscape in the country. This, I believe, will bring hope and confidence to all Ghanaians irrespective of the political or religious affiliation or ethnic background.” The clear import of this passage is that he Mr. Kyeremateng has in mind, a national interest superior to the interest of the NPP. It is also an unequivocal declaration that he has thought for himself a future role in politics outside the NPP. It is obvious that he has no deep-rooted commitment or loyalty to the NPP.
In the light of this latest statement, it is my considered view that it will not be in the best interest of the NPP to receive Mr. Alan Kyeremateng back into the party’s fold. He will become a disruptive factor in the party, a stumbling block, loose cannon. The party has an election to win. We should concentrate our efforts on the task ahead and let him go his way in peace.