The 2016 Flagbearer and Founder of the United Progressive Party(UPP) Akwasi Addai Odike has accused President Akufo Addo of giving the party a raw deal after it entered into an alliance with the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP) to win the 2016 elections.
According to him, as part of the deal for the alliance, President Akufo Addo is supposed to give some officers of the UPP certain appointments after winning power, but after more than two years in power that is yet to be done.
“If you enter into an alliance with a party and that party wins power, the practice is that when that party assumes power, the smaller party is given its share of appointments. But I’ve gone to President Akufo Addo 15 times to get him to deliver on his promise, but that has not been done but I can’t fight anyone or force anybody to give us appointments.
“Akufo Addo ahead of the election asked me and my party to join forces with the NPP to vote out the NDC from power, promising that after we win power, our party officers will be given appointment and other offers,” Akwasi Addae Odike told Kasapa News.
Akwasi Addai Odike has been under fire this week with the National Executive Council(NEC) of the UPP claiming to have unanimously dismissed as they passed a vote of no confidence in him.
Addressing a press conference shortly after the decision was carried out, Mr Bukari Kuoru, the acting General Secretary of the party said: “Upon several deliberations, NEC has resolved to weed out a thorn in the flesh of the UPP. In accordance with Article 29 and Article 16 (3) of the party’s constitution, Mr Kwesi Addai Odike has been dismissed indefinitely by a unanimous decision by NEC acting on the advice of the national council until further notice.
He added: “Voting has been done and in compliance with Article 28 of the party’s constitution, Mr Kwesi Addai Odike, henceforth, ceases to be a member of the party and as such cannot carry out any executive duties, parade himself in the name of the party or on behalf of the party in any instance whatsoever.”
But Akwasi Addae Odike insists that he remains the leader of the UPP and that nobody can sack him from a party he founded with his own resources.