Consider a U-turn on affirmative action; backlash is huge – Kennedy Agyapong tells NPP (audio)

Firebrand Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has admitted that the backlash on the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was huge with regards to its affirmative action moves.

He therefore called for a second look at the policy.

Speaking to Accra based Okay FM on Wednesday, he said he was present and part the of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting that took the decision to protect 16 female Members of Parliament.

He argued that empowering women was a brilliant idea and there was nothing wrong with it but if the larger membership of the party thinks the timing was wrong, then there was the need to have a second look at it.

There were some grassroots and underground members who have been nurturing ambitions and this decision would not go in their favour and likely to result in some deciding to contest as independent candidates, he said.

Mr Agyapong revealed that there were disagreements when the motion of affirmative action was tabled at the NEC meeting but at the end of the day, he said the majority view ruled.

He disputed accusations that Nana Akufo Addo was the one who initiated the policy and said it indeed originated from the NPP parliamentary caucus and was rather supported by Nana Addo at the NEC meeting when it was tabled.

He said at the NEC meeting, the party’s Chairman, Paul Afoko, Youth Organiser Sammy Awuku and National Organiser John Buadu cautioned against the move in their arguments  even though he [Kennedy Agyapong] personally felt it was a good policy to encourage females, if the larger members of the NPP thinks otherwise, it makes sense for the party to consider it.

He said he supported the move when the parliamentarians decided on it but when at the NEC meeting last Monday, Chairman Afoko, Sammy Awuku and John Buadu advanced their arguments, he felt it made sense and there was the need for a second look since it can bring problems for the NPP.

“I am not going to condemn the committee because I was part of it…if there was a mistake we have to admit that the backlash is too much, you cannot ignore it and ignore majority of the people against 16.”

He said the national council can throw the NEC decision away. “Somebody must appeal it,” he added.

Listen to Ken Agyapong speak on Okay FM in the attached below

{mp3}ken_agyapong_calls_for_u_turn{/mp3}