Paul Yandoh, the Communications Director for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region, has chastised the party’s members and fanatics who say they are disappointed in the leadership for attending the funeral of Andrews Kwame Amankwah.
According to him, the party did nothing wrong solidarizing with families of the deceased who was buried on May 30.
Amankwah, a Kumasi based businessman tragically lost his life after some armed robbers in February shot him dead and stole his car
He happens to be the father in-law of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GoldBod and national Communication Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi.
His final funeral last week was attended by almost everyone that matter in the country was there to mourn with the bereaved in Kumasi.
Among the dignitaries were the Vice President Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, First Lady Lordina Mahama, the Chief Justice Paul Baffoe Bonnie, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Christian Tetteh Yohonu, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng, national chairman of the NDC Johnson Asiedu Nketiah and others.
Those from the NPP included failed 2024 Vice Presidential candidate Matthew Opoku Prempeh, General Secretary Justin Frimpong Kodua, National Organizer Henry Nana Boakye, Paul Yandoh and others.
What was supposed to be a social gathering of friends and family, has been criticized by some in the NPP who say they are disturbed by the presence of their leadership.
For them, the NPP has disappointed them because Sammy Gyamfi should be the last person the NPP will seek to fraternize and show solidarity to.
According to them, the national Communication Officer in the past was a torn in the flesh of the NPP and Dr Bawumia and told endless lies about it flagbearer. They say it was painful that the NPP will be haunted aggressively by Gyamfi and yet leadership will turn round to mingle with him.
Presenter and panel members on Movement TV, a channel belonging to the Ashanti Regional chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), have not been left out in the condemnation, blasting the party for betraying the trust of the grassroots.
Speaking on the matter, the host and panel members led by journalist Gordon Asare Bediako expressed disappointment saying they have betrayed the grassroots.
“If you look at how Sammy Gyamfi treated Dr Bawumia, the lies and propaganda against Dr Bawumia. He was the one that coined the phrase Bawuliar, Bawuliar that was put on the internet. Today you see people close to Bawumia mingling with Sammy Gyamfi….It has really hurt some of the party people so I saw yesterday that some of them ….I decided that I will not talk about that funeral.
Sammy Gyamfi we are even told did not do anything and that that the funeral was held and he was invited”, the presenter on Movement TV said sarcastically”.
But reacting to their concerns, Paul Yandoh said the concerns of members are not valid. According to him, no one is an Island and that there is life before and after politics.
He revealed that the deceased, a very worthy man, while alive was a staunch member of the NPP. He is said to have been appointed a board chairman during for President John Kufuor’s administration.
He continued “Sammy Gyamfi has not done anything, if you discuss it you will become the enemy while they become friends.”
“If you are a politician it does not mean you have to abandon your culture. When one dies there is a reason why when one dies there are rites to be performed, you must understand and feel for people. If you are a politician it doesn’t mean you should not feel for people, and abandon people. Sammy Gyamfi’s in-law he is NPP or you think he is NDC”. It is marriage ….When did Sammy Gyamfi go into the family? It is marriage that made him family but before that there family was there. Where is the family from?
I can tell you that about 80 to 90 percent of the people are NPP. We mourned him because general secretary, national organizer, former running mate NPP were all present and you are saying did not mourn him?” he questioned the morning show host on Kumasi based Akoma FM.
By Gifty Boateng