Former Majority Leader and Suame MP, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has opened up about the internal party dynamics that led to his removal, making way for Alexander Afenyo-Markin to take over the role.
In an interview on Asempa FM on Tuesday, March 4, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu revealed that he was forewarned about the president’s intention to replace him. According to him, nearly 80 MPs had informed him of the plan, with many urging him to resist the move.
Despite receiving assurances of support, he ultimately chose to step down to prevent further divisions within the New Patriotic Party (NPP). “I didn’t want to be at the center of a crisis within the party. I felt my time had run its course, so I made the decision to resign on the spot,” he stated.
He recounted how President Akufo-Addo had convened an emergency meeting before the elections, where concerns about the NPP’s weakening influence in the Central Region were raised. With the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) gaining momentum—particularly with Naana Opoku-Agyemang as a likely running mate and Cassiel Ato Forson leading the Minority—Akufo-Addo reportedly saw Afenyo-Markin as a strategic replacement to strengthen the party’s hold in the region.
“Many MPs disagreed with the logic behind this decision, but I understood where things were headed. Rather than create unnecessary tension, I stepped aside,” Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu explained.
His departure has since reshaped the leadership structure of the NPP in Parliament, with Afenyo-Markin now tasked with leading the Majority caucus ahead of the crucial 2024 elections.
