Former Majority Leader and MP for Suame Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has opened up about the internal politics within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that led to his removal from office, paving the way for Alexander Afenyo-Markin to take over the role.

 Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu disclosed that he had received prior warnings about President Akufo-Addo’s plan to replace him.

“Some of my colleagues, about 80 MPs, informed me ahead of time that the President wanted me out.

Many MPs encouraged me to fight back, assuring me of their support,” he revealed.

Despite this backing, he chose to step aside to prevent further divisions within the party.

“I didn’t want to be the centre of any conflict within the party.

I felt I had served enough, so I decided to resign on my terms,” he stated.

Recalling events leading to his resignation, he mentioned an emergency meeting convened by President Akufo-Addo before the elections, at a time when former President John Dramani Mahama had yet to name his running mate.

According to Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the president was concerned about the NPP’s declining influence in the Central Region and wanted a leader who could strengthen the party’s position.

“The president argued that the NDC was gaining ground in the Central Region, especially with Naana Opoku-Agyemang likely to be Mahama’s running mate and Ato Forson as Minority Leader,” he said.

He further explained that President Akufo-Addo saw Afenyo-Markin, a native of the Central Region, as the best candidate to counter the NDC’s growing presence there.

“Most MPs disagreed with this reasoning, but I saw where things were headed.

Rather than complicate matters, I stepped aside,” he added.

He made this revelation while speaking in an interview on Asempa FM on Tuesday, March 4.