-Annoh-Dompreh Plots Afenyo-Markin’s Ouster as NPP Splinters
– Cash, Betrayal, and a Three-Way Battle for NPP’s Soul
By Gifty Boateng
A political earthquake is rumbling beneath the surface of Ghana’s main opposition party, The New Republic can authoritatively report. A high-stakes coup, fueled by bitterness from the recent presidential primaries and personal ambition, is being orchestrated to remove Alexander Afenyo-Markin as Minority Leader in Parliament.
Multiple deep-throat sources within the party’s highest echelons have confirmed that the plot, spearheaded by Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has splintered the caucus into three rival camps, each with its own agenda for power. This clandestine war threatens to blow apart the party’s unity and hand a crippling advantage to the governing NDC just as the NPP prepares for the 2028 elections.
The “Crime” and The Conspirators
Afenyo-Markin’s cardinal sin, in the eyes of his plotters, was his perceived betrayal during the flagbearer race. While publicly playing neutral, the Effutu MP delivered his constituency in a landslide for his close ally, Kennedy Agyapong, humiliating the now-Flagbearer-elect Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in that key battleground. This act of “neutrality” has made him a target.
Camp 1: The Annoh-Dompreh Ambition. The Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP is leading the most aggressive charge, eyeing the Minority Leader’s chair for himself. Sources reveal he is not just lobbying but bankrolling his support, with credible reports of financial inducements ranging from GH¢20,000 to GH¢50,000 offered to selected MPs to secure their loyalty.
His ambitions stretch further he is actively positioning himself as a potential running mate to Dr. Bawumia, leveraging his marriage to a northerner and his fluency in Ewe to sell a “national appeal” narrative.
A intercepted leadership list shows Annoh-Dompreh plans a clean sweep: installing Kofi Amankwah-Manu (Atwima-Kwanwoma) as his deputy, ousting current Deputy Leader Patricia Appiagyei.
The list also promotes Habib Iddrisu (Tolon) to substantive Whip, and brings in John Ntim Fordjour (Assin North) and Ama Appianimaa Salam (Afigya Kwabre South) as deputy whips, displacing Afenyo-Markin’s protégé, first-term MP Jerry Ahmed Shaib.
Camp 2: The “Silent Operators” – Oppong Nkrumah & Awuku. The second, more cunning faction is led by former Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, who operates through the proxy of Sammi Awuku, MP for Akuapem North. Both are staunch Bawumia loyalists.
In a shocking radio interview before the primaries, Awuku revealed that Bawumia felt “betrayed” by some he considered close and was “thankful to God” he lost the 2024 election to avoid making regrettable appointments. Insiders say this sentiment is now driving their plot: a purge of perceived disloyalty.
The twist? Annoh-Dompreh is not trusted. Sources say if Afenyo-Markin falls, this camp plans to double-cross the Chief Whip and install the more politically polished Oppong Nkrumah instead, sparking a secondary civil war.
Camp 3: The Shadow Faction. The identity of the third group remains shrouded, a testament to the deep, multi-layered intrigue at play.
Afenyo-Markin’s Fortress
Despite the onslaught, removing the five-term MP will be a Herculean task. Afenyo-Markin is a political bulldozer with a formidable base in the Central and Volta regions. Crucially, he retains the powerful, behind-the-scenes backing of Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, the influential cousin of former President Akufo-Addo, whose network remains a dominant force in the NPP.
Bawumia’s Impossible Test
This brewing mutiny presents the first and greatest challenge for President-elect Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. His pledge to unite the party rings hollow as his own lieutenants, allegedly in his name, wage a bitter war that could cripple the party’s effectiveness in Parliament.
Whether he reins in the plotters or allows the purge to proceed will define his control over the NPP and signal if the party prioritizes vengeance over governance.
The battle for the Minority Leadership is no longer just a political contest; it is a naked struggle for the soul of the NPP, fought with cash, betrayal, and ruthless ambition. The explosion is imminent.