Sack Kwaku Kwarteng or Nana Addo will lose 2012 first round - Ben Ephson

Ben Ephson (L) and Kwaku Kwarteng

Managing Editor for the Daily Dispatch newspaper, Ben Ephson Junior says it is not the place of the New Patriotic Party to determine what style he must adopt in pursuing his journalism profession.

Ben Ephson who concedes he is not perfect, said criticisms from some members of the NPP's national executive will not deter him from doing what he does.

The veteran journalist has been heavily condemned by leading members of the party for allegedly concentrating his publications on happenings in the NPP which they describe as a calculated attempt to discredit the NPP and disunite its front.

Ben Ephson's latest publication on the NPP which exposes the formation of a new political party in the Ashanti Regional capital of Kumasi, says those behind the new party are targeting members of the NPP into their fold.

According to the Daily Dispatch reports, the United Front Party is targeting to woo supporters from the NPP in its stronghold of Ashanti.

But the publication seems to have irked some leaders of the NPP who are labeling the publication as a figment of Ben Ephson's imagination.

NPP's Communications Director, Kwaku Kwarteng on Asempa FM's Ekosii Sen programme Thursday enjoined Ben Ephson to come clean with a declaration that he has shifted from the practice of objective journalism due to favours from the ruling National Democratic Congress government.

Mr. Kwarteng's position was supported by NPP founding member Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe who called into the programme to register his displeasure about Mr. Ephson's “negative” publications against the NPP. While confessing Mr. Ephson's fortitude and previous objectivity in a long acquaintance, Nyaho said it beats his mind what exactly Ben Ephson was looking to achieve in the NPP by focusing on happenings there while other more important developments of national importance pass without as much as a comment by him.

But Ben Ephson in his reaction said anyone in the NPP who take offence at his publications should seek a rejoinder or even refuse to patronise his newspaper, but it would be totally wrong for such people to assume they can force him to change his style.

He asserted that the NPP ought take a more careful look at some of those it has appointed as leaders if it was not to suffer unduly at the 2012 polls due to their action.

“Kwaku Kwarteng's reaction to my story should tell the NPP something that, if he is not changed, the NPP will lose the 2012 elections. If they keep people like Kwaku Kwarteng at the helm of affairs in NPP, Nana will lose the elections in the first round,” he said.

Jerry Tsatro Mordy/Asempa News