A group of concerned delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ejisu Constituency in the Ashanti region has strongly condemned what they describe as sustained interference, hostility and the deliberate spread of falsehoods by the Member of Parliament for Effiduase-Asokore, Mr Ayew Afriyie, against the duly elected Member of Parliament for Ejisu, Kwabena Boateng, Esq.
In a press statement issued on Monday and signed by several party delegates, the group accused Mr Afriyie—who also serves as a campaign coordinator for former Vice President and former NPP flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia—of engaging in actions calculated to undermine the authority, credibility and legitimacy of the Ejisu MP following the 2024 parliamentary primaries.
According to the delegates, the root of the controversy lies in the outcome of the 2024 NPP parliamentary primaries in Ejisu, where Helena Mensah, described in the statement as Mr Afriyie’s partner, was “fairly and decisively defeated” by Kwabena Boateng. They stressed that the contest was conducted transparently and that the verdict of the delegates was “clear, decisive and final,” despite what they claim was Ms Mensah’s access to “extensive state power, resources and financial backing.”
The statement alleges that since that defeat, Mr Afriyie has embarked on a sustained campaign to discredit the Ejisu MP, including accusations of misappropriation and embezzlement of campaign funds. The delegates dismissed these allegations as false and malicious, noting that they were publicly rebutted by Dr Kwame Agyemang Budu, Chairman of the Constituency Finance Committee, in a widely circulated press release.
They further accused Mr Afriyie of inflaming tensions within the constituency by making what they termed “reckless and misleading” claims that Ejisu had two Members of Parliament. According to the delegates, such statements were intended to sow confusion and undermine the authority of the elected MP.
The delegates said the situation escalated further during a recent visit by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to the Ejisu Constituency. At the event, Mr Afriyie allegedly raised the hand of Helena Mensah before the gathering and declared that Ejisu had two MPs, a statement the delegates described as provocative and disrespectful. They also accused him of openly stating that he would ensure Ms Mensah becomes the MP for Ejisu should Dr Bawumia become flagbearer, a declaration they said amounted to an affront to democratic principles and the intelligence of Ejisu constituents.
The group identified two main factors driving what they describe as sustained hostility toward their MP: the defeat of Helena Mensah in the 2024 primaries and the open support being given by Kwabena Boateng to Hon. Kennedy Agyapong in the January 31 internal party contest. They questioned whether lawful political participation and freedom of choice within the party were now being punished.
Reiterating their confidence in the performance of the Ejisu MP, the delegates maintained that Kwabena Boateng has served creditably both in Parliament and within the constituency. They emphasized that this is not the time for parliamentary primaries and insisted that their MP is not afraid of any contest, “not even against someone he has already defeated when all odds were stacked against him.”
The statement concluded with a firm rejection of what the delegates described as external interference in Ejisu politics. They warned that no individual outside the constituency has the authority to decide who becomes its Member of Parliament and vowed to resist any form of imposition, intimidation or political manipulation.
“We are fed up with the interference. We reject the false narratives. We demand respect for the democratic choice of Ejisu constituents,” the statement read.
In a direct warning to Mr Afriyie, the delegates stated that if he seeks parliamentary office for his partner, he should pursue that ambition within his own constituency and not attempt to impose her on Ejisu.
“Ejisu has an MP. Ejisu chose its MP. Ejisu will defend its choice,” the statement concluded.
The press release was signed by Suleman Yussif, Ernest Apau, Mrs Vida Adjei, Collins Ata Junior and Boakye Yiadom Linda, all described as concerned delegates of the Ejisu Constituency.
