Party Chairman Flees to Bush Over Bawumia Plot
By Philip Antoh
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Ghana is once again embroiled in a deep-seated internal crisis, with a high-ranking member now in hiding, fearing for his life.
Alhaji Sulemana Saeed, widely known as Chairman Gawo, has reportedly fled his home and sought refuge “in the bush” after receiving relentless death threats from his own party comrades.
Chairman Gawo, who chairs the NPP Zongo Communication Caucus in Kumasi, claims his life is in grave danger. His ordeal began after he allegedly attended a clandestine meeting where a sinister plot to tarnish the image of Ghana’s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and other senior party executives was hatched.
According to Gawo, the meeting involved twelve chairmen from the Ashanti Region and four party executives – two from Kumasi and two from Accra. During this gathering, a laptop and a pen drive containing “secret audio and video visuals” of Dr. Bawumia and other prominent figures were allegedly presented.
The explicit intent, he claims, was to disseminate these recordings to party supporters ahead of the internal primaries, thereby damaging Bawumia’s reputation.
Gawo revealed that the recordings detailed a plan by certain party members to spread false information aimed at undermining Dr. Bawumia’s popularity within the NPP.
Despite the plotters pleading with him not to expose their scheme, Gawo says they remain suspicious of his intentions, leading to the escalating attacks and death threats.
Speaking to The New Republic via telephone, Chairman Gawo recounted that each attendee at the meeting received a “white fat envelope containing money under the guise of T&T.”
“After the said meeting, I conspired with one of my friends who was also present that we should hold on with the plot,” Chairman Gawo disclosed.
The very next morning, he received a call from one of the plotters, demanding to know the whereabouts of the laptop and bag – a question Gawo claims he couldn’t answer.
“I’m currently hiding in the bush due to the death threats from my own NPP people,” a distraught Chairman Gawo stated. “Why should we be doing this to ourselves when we want power? A supposed fight that comes with unity.”
Known for championing unity within the NPP, Gawo is now desperately seeking protection and an end to the internal wrangling that has put his life on the line.
This alarming situation casts a harsh spotlight on the deep divisions plaguing the NPP.
In a chilling account, Chairman Gawo recounted attempting to inform the Ashanti Regional Communication Director, Mr. Paul Andoh, about the constant death threats.
However, he was reportedly warned not to come to Andoh’s house, told to pretend not to know him, and Andoh’s gatekeeper was instructed to deny him entry in the future.
Gawo further alleged that their “paymasters” intended for the attacks to be launched in areas like Dunkwa-and-Offin, Kumasi, and Ejura, targeting individuals such as Paul Andoh and Alhaji Kumasi.
This instruction, he suggested, indicates that “similar meetings and engagements have already been done in many places,” hinting at a widespread conspiracy within the ruling party.