The New Patriotic Party (NPP) will settle on Andrew Asiamah Amoako, the second deputy speaker of Parliament and independent Member of Parliament (MP) for Fomena, as its candidate for the 2024 general elections, Asaase News has gathered.
This decision, according to top sources within the party, is a turning point in the relationship between the NPP and Asiamah, who was previously expelled from the party under contentious circumstances.
This development was also confirmed by lawyer William Kusi, secretary of the Ashanti Regional NPP reconciliation committee. Kusi explained that this move was in the best interest of the party, given the unique circumstances surrounding Asiamah’s exit and his subsequent role in supporting the NPP’s majority in Parliament.
“Asiamah is coming and it is so because we need to secure the seat,” Kusi told Kumasi-based Oyerepa TV.
“It is important for people to wait for others to go so that they can follow. And I am sure that whoever is nursing that ambition should not throw it away…But for the love of the party and the fact that we want to break the 8, there are certain things we have to do differently. What is most important is the victory”, he stated.
“As a political party, people will always have concerns and so wisdom will tell you that call the people to resolve their concerns and let’s move on. And so these are some of the things we do as a political party to get everybody on board”, he further added.
Asiamah’s departure from the NPP in the lead-up to the 2020 elections was marked by controversy. After disagreements with the party’s leadership over internal issues, the lawmaker decided to run as an independent candidate, a move that led to his expulsion from the party. Despite this, he went on to win the Fomena seat, a crucial victory that left the NPP without an outright majority in Parliament.
However, after his re-election as an independent candidate, Asiamah chose to join the Majority Caucus in Parliament, helping the party secure a slim majority and maintain control of the legislative agenda. His decision to align with the NPP, despite his independent status, demonstrated his commitment to the party’s broader goals, even after his expulsion.
Source:asaaseradio.com