The call by the Former NPP National Chairman, Haruna Esseku on Alan Kyeremanteng to defer his presidential ambitions until the year 2020 elections has attracted sharp criticisms and chastisements from the rank and file of the New Patriotic Party. The former NPP chairman, in an interview with Citi FM on Tuesday September 29, called on Alan Kyeremanteng to discard his Presidential ambitions for 2012 and focus on the 2020 elections since he (Alan) does not have what it takes to lead the NPP to Victory in the 2012 elections. He therefore suggested that the former aspirant, who gave the party’s 2008 presidential candidate, Nana Akufo Addo a run for his money, rather freezes his ambitions for eight more years. This incurred the wrath of some NPP leaders in the Ashanti Region who have demanded that the leadership of the party dissociate itself from the comments within a week and demand a retraction from the former National Chairman. The latest to speak on Mr. Esseku’s comment is Mr. Kwame Appiah Menka, a Founding Father of the NPP who also serves as the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the party’s council of elders. Mr. Menka says Haruna Esseku’s suggestion is constitutionally flawed. He told Citi News in an interview that although Haruna Esseku has the liberty to express his views, he does not have the right to infringe on anybody’s constitutional mandate in the party. “…nobody can disenfranchise anybody. By the constitution of the party nobody can ask Nana Akuffo Addo or Alan to step down.” He said. Mr. Menka however noted that the council of elders may intervene to convince any of the 2012 presidential aspirants to step down in favour of others; should that be deemed necessary for the party’s interest. To buttress his point, Mr. Appiah Menka disclosed that Capt. (rtd) Nkrabea Effah Dartey, in 2007, had to give up his presidential ambition upon his (Appiah Menka’s) intervention. “…we as council of elders, in the interest of the party and without endangering anybody’s democratic right, can do things behind closed doors to solve political issues.” He saidSource: Citifmonline.com