Benyiwa Doe: Alan in, Alan out, the value is the same

Listen to Ama Benyiwa Doe

The National Women's Organiser of the National Democratic Congress, Madam Ama Benyiwa Doe, has said that the exit of Alan Kyerematen, from the New Patriotic Party, or his return, will not prevent an electoral defeat for the NPP come elections 2008.

Alan, a prominent NPP member who failed to win the party's presidential candidature, quit the party on Thursday over what he said were intimidations and alienation of people who supported his presidential bid.

But the outspoken Ama Benyiwa, who was part of a panel on Adom FM's Dwaso Nsem programme, said the elephant, (referring to the NPP as per the party's symbol) has caused too much havoc at home and would be sent to where it belongs (the bush) after its defeat at the 2008 elections.

She said Alan's return to the party, will not matter all. “Alan or no Alan, the value is the same, she said.

According to Benyiwa Doe, the measure of a party's democratic appeal does not lie in its electoral victories or when it is winning, but how it manages internal descent when a section is aggrieved, and asked the NPP to do well to manage the instant problem.

She said 'breaking away' is typical of the NPP, given what happened to the party in 1979 when its antecedent, the UP split. She explained that at that period, Dr. Obed Asamoah, one time NDC Chairman and current patron of the Democratic Freedom Party, was part of the UP tradition. He left to join the Rawlings revolution, and when he was defeated at the party's primary in Koforidua in 2006, he left in protest, alleging intimidation.

Ama Benyiwa Doe said that is their character, and she was not surprised that Alan has also taken a cue from his tradition. She however prayed that he returns to re-enforce the NPP's arsenal for election 2008, so that there will be no excuse after the coming defeat.