Kwabena Agyepong must talk less, build bridges - Baako

The reaction of New Patriotic Party General Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong to his purported resignation letter portrayed him as combative, Editor-in-chief of the Crusading Guide Newspaper, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, has said.

According to him, the General Secretary could have denied knowledge of the letter without being excessively defensive.

Speaking on Peace FM’s morning show ‘Kokrokoo’, the veteran journalist said Kwabena Agyepoang “spoke too much” when he was interviewed about the letter.

Following the tragic death of the NPP’s Upper East Regional Chairman, Adams Mahama, many have called on the General Secretary and the National Chairman of the party to resign.

The two have been accused of causing disagreements and dimming the party's chances of winning next year's presidential poll. The death of Adams Mahama, who himself was reported to have scuttled a meeting in Bolga sparked anger amongst the regional caucuses of the party which say the two must go. Adams Mahama died after some unknown assailants doused him with acid. A brother of the National Chairman, Paul Afoko is standing trial for the crime.

As seven regional caucuses appealed to three bodies in the party to prevail on the two to step aside, a letter emerged yesterday indicating that the General Secretary had resigned from office.

In an interview with Joy News yesterday, Kwabena Agyepong denied knowledge of the letter insisting that "I am still at post, I have not resigned and I intend to see out my mandate”.

He added that "clearly these are unseen hands; people who want to destroy our party; bring the name of our party into disrepute. All that they have tried to do these past two weeks; even to try and hang murder around my neck.

"I am a very firm, strong person and resolute. By the Grace of God, I believe in what I am doing I know I am right. I am going to stick to my position. Those who think I am going to resign better think about that. I am not going to resign. Those who want to impeach me can go ahead. I will make sure they will lose the impeachment effort."

However, Mr Baako said Kwabena Agyepong’s comments in relation to the letter were excessive.

In his view, the General Secretary should use this moment to “build bridges and or rebuild those that have already broken. If I were him, I would not have said all those things.

“It is good he immediately denied the letter publicly but there was an overkill in his reaction yesterday”, he said.

He added that although Kwabena Agyepong might be convinced that he did nothing wrong and will want to continue his mandate as General Secretary, the best response he could have given with regards to the letter was “a straightforward denial of responsibility for that letter”.

Kweku Baako said he doubts if the General Secretary’s response will help him win the party’s sympathy.

“All the things he said will not grow a critical mass of sympathy for him within the party structures. The language he applied and the things he said will not create an understanding and goodwill for him”, he said.

In his opinion, Kwabena Agyepong’s response portrays him as someone who is “in a combative mood and it only send ripples to the other side to also combat.”

Mr Baako said it was impossible for the General Secretary to carry out his duties effectively and efficiently when “you are holed up in your house; you have to go out there and interact with people in the party”.

He is of the view that in order to do this, Mr Agyepong should be able to win party members to his side.

In dealing with the issues, he said there is a certain kind of tact that is required and the party he believes has “enough hands help them manage these crises no matter how transient”.