Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Prof. Ransford Gyampo has revealed that the late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, aka Sir John had plans to run for the office of NPP National Chairman in the next internal party election, but for his demise.
Prof. Gyampo disclosed this in a long tribute he paid to the late former General Secretary of the NPP, saying that Sir John had already contacted him (Gyampo) to help his course in that regard.
Sir John lost his position as General Secretary to Kwabena Adjei Agyepong in 2014, after serving only one term in office. It was from that elections that his popular phrase “fear delegates” originated.
Despite his setback in 2014, the former Forestry Commission boss had his eyes fixed on a NPP top job, and had already initiated processes to contest Freddie Blay in their next internal elections.
Prof. Gyampo stated in his tribute “yes, he was angling to take the Chairmanship position of his party at their next election, and needed me around to provide some consultancy for him. But his kindness outweighed whatever I was doing for him.”
He added that “anytime he called me to his office to seek my view on an issue, I met all manner of people across the political divide, both NPP and NDC people there and he solved their myriad problems for them, sometimes, by just making a phone call.”
Unfortunately, Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie did not live to see the fruition of his dream.