NPP Flagbearer Race: Karbo refused to announce  donations from Alan Cash at Bawumia's Mother funeral

Internal jostling within the New Patriotic Party for the upcoming Presidential slot is beginning to eat deep into the governing Party. 

What was supposed to be a solemn memorial of the late Hajia Mariama Bawumia, mother of the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia turned into a near Political brawl between supporters of the Trades and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen and supporters of the Bawumia Faction. 

It was an amazing spectacle when the forerunner in the New Patriotic Patry’s Presidential Race and Minister for Trade and Industry Alan Kwadwo Kyermaten stormed Kperiga, the venue of the funeral ceremony of the late Hajia Mariama Bawumia, mother of the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

The Minister for Trade and Industry was amongst a host of statesmen including President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo to join Hundreds of sympathisers from all walks of life who converged at Walewale in the North East Region for the 40th-day adua (Islamic funeral) mother of the Vice-President. 

Rivalry surged between the supporters of the Vice President and the man deemed to be next in line for the flagbearership slot for the 2024 general elections as these delegates have been crisscrossing to convince the grassroots of the governing party over who should ultimately lead the agenda to break the 8-year political cycle.

Some had speculated that given the intense competition between the two leading figures of the NPP, ‘Alan cash’ may not be willing to turn up for the final funeral rites of the Hajia Mariama Bawumia. However, to their dismay, the Trade and Industry Minister showed up last  Sunday to commensurate with the family of the Vice president. 

Alan was welcomed with cheers from onlookers and some other members of the party who were in attendance at the event. 

After exchanging hearty pleasantries with his main contender Alan Kyerematen stayed on with other party faithful and Government officials to spend some time with the family of Dr Bawumiah. 

Mr Alan Kyerematen reportedly also made some donations which include cattle, bags of rice and water to aid the final funeral rites. 

However, confusion emerged after former deputy roads minister Anthony Karbo who served as the master of ceremonies refused to acknowledge and announce the gesture from Mr Alan.

This situation incensed some supporters of the Trade Minister who questioned the former government appointee over his behaviour. Although Karbo explains that his decision to halt the announcement was due to the arrival of the President, the Alan factions believe that Karbo's actions are intentional given his long-standing dislike for the candidature of Alan Kyerematen.   
 
The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, led a congregation of Muslim faithful for a Quran recitation and supplications (adua) for the soul of the deceased and the bereaved family.

Hajia Mariama, aka Maame, passed away on Monday, September 13, 2021, in Accra, aged 82.

She was laid to rest at the family house at Kperiga next to the grave of her late husband, Mumuni Bawumia.

  Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu