The intrigues over President Akufo-Addo’s successor hit a faux pas on Thursday, June 3, 2021, when a staffer at the Jubilee House jumped the gun by declaring Vice President Bawumia as the “next President of Ghana” on the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) ticket.
The Jubilee House staffer, one Theresa Addison, during the funeral of the late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (Sir John), sent shock waves through the already fracturing ruling party by saying Bawumia is the next in line to President Akufo-Addo.
Her statement is an official voicing of an open secret in the ruling party, where it is believed that President Akufo-Addo is attempting to maintain his hegemony over the NPP by grooming Bawumia to take over from him, while he pulls the strings in the background.
Whatsup News has gathered that the rival powerful faction within the NPP (the so-called Ashanti or Kufour faction) is not enthused about the potential of being saddled with an Akufo-Addo hegemony of the so-called Akyem Faction.
Meanwhile, the backlash from her unrestrained pronouncement has forced Ms. Addison to apologise.
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In a statement released on social media, she wrote “Yesterday, at the funeral of the Late Mr. Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (Sir John), I had the singular honor to announce the funeral donations of the President, H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Vice President, H. E. Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). In the course of the announcement, I made an unfortunate remark to the effect that H. E. Alhaji Dr. Bawumia will be the next President of Ghana,” She said.
“Upon a sober reflection, I have come to the realization that I acted irresponsibly and the said assertion was needless and inappropriate.
On this premise, I regret my actions and sincerely retract and apologize unconditionally to the Leadership and rank and file of the NPP for making such prejudicial comment that is offensive to the rules of the party.”
It is believed that she was forced to retract her statement, but it appears the damage has already been done, as she may have reinforced the resolve of people like current Trade Minister, Alan Kwadwo Kyeramaten, and former Attorney General, Joe Ghartey, who are reportedly scheming to take over the reins of leadership of the NPP in 2024.
Source: Whatsupnewsghana
