The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has fired back at founding member Kwame Pianim, saying he has made no attempt to learn what evidence it has amassed in its challenge against the results of the 2012 presidential election. Mr. Pianim criticized NPP Members of Parliament for boycotting all duties relating directly to the presidency while party leadership is before the Supreme Court with a petition to annul John Mahama’s declaration as president. The renowned economist reportedly also condemned the party hierarchy for trying to ensure that Nana Akufo-Addo is retained as its flagbearer in the 2016 elections. In a statement, the party replied that it is rather Mr. Pianim who sought to hold the party ransom in 1996 when his candidature for the flagbearership position was challenged in court. “Mr. Pianim sought to hold the party to ransom by attempting to subject the party's congress to his fortunes in the court case. It is that kind of behaviour that suggests that one views positions in the party as inheritances.” Read the full statement issued and signed by Communications Director, Nana Akomea. 27th February 2013 NPP REACTS TO KWAME PIANIM The NPP takes notice of the sentiments about the party expressed by Kwame Pianim in Africawatch magazine, which report has also been circulating in the local media. The NPP is ready to accept results of any election no matter how bitter. It did so in 1992, 1996 and 2008. In 2008 for example, even though the party was the incumbent government and lost by the narrowest of margins, the party accepted the results. The party however disagrees with the results of the 2012 elections. As the law requires, we have submitted the basis of our disagreement in the form of a petition to the Supreme Court of Ghana. Nana Akufo-Addo, after December 9 2012, has not held himself out as the leader of the NPP. Every official meeting of the party at the national level has been chaired by the National Chairman, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey. The petition before the Supreme Court is in the names of three individuals, including the Chairman of the NPP, because the rules governing petitions of this sort provide that the petitioners should be individual citizens. These three individuals are therefore acting in the name of the party. It should be trite knowledge that the vast numbers of the rank and file of the party fully support this action. Indeed it will amount to gross negligence and betrayal if NPP leadership took no action in the face of the overwhelming evidence of the Illegalities and malpractices that attended the conduct of the 2012 general elections. The party's boycott of President Mahama's inauguration was not the decision of just the National Executives, but one taken by a full meeting of the National Council, which is the second highest decision making body of the party. The national council is composed of the entire membership of the national executive committee, council of elders, founding members, ex- presidents, ex- vice presidents, ex- national chairmen, ex general secretaries, flagbearers, parliamentary leadership, 20 members of parliament, all regional chairmen, heads of the various directorates etc. The party's protest against the election results is not limited to the Supreme Court. The protest extends to other non violent, peaceful activities such as specific parliamentary boycotts. Mr. Pianim may find disagreeable some people who speak for the party. If Mr. Pianim describes others as self appointed spokespersons, how will he describe himself as he also appears to be speaking on behalf of the NPP? The NPP is not making a fuss about the court case. The court case is based on the most solid, in our view, of evidence. It does not seem that Mr. Pianim has availed himself of the details of this evidence. The NPP has had various branding but no branding of the party can give anyone the impression that the party is a family stool to be inherited. It is trite knowledge that positions in the NPP are always keenly contested for. Indeed the NPP is the only political party in Ghana where over 100,000 people go to the polls to elect a flagbearer. One cannot help but remember the conduct of Mr. Pianim in 1996, when Mr. Pianim's eligibility to contest NPP flagbearership elections was challenged in court. Mr. Pianim sought to hold the party to ransom by attempting to subject the party's congress to his fortunes in the court case. It is that kind of behaviour that suggests that one views positions in the party as inheritances. Mr. Pianim calls for a rebuilding of the party. It is our humble view that the court challenge is a major part of rebuilding the party. Indeed the court case seeks to restore the greatest integrity in our electoral system. Hence it goes to the heart of Ghanaian democracy itself .We ask elders like Mr. Pianim be part of the spirit of the party at this time by supporting the tremendous effort the party is making in court not only for itself but for Democracy in Ghana ......Signed...... Nana Akomea NPP Communications Director