NDC In Closed Door Meeting

THE EASTERN regional campaign tour by young ministers and the national youth organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) ended on Friday at the regional capital, Koforidua, with a closed-door meeting.

DAILY GUIDE had followed with keen interest the tour which was intended to whip up support for President Mills amongst the youth and also strategise for election 2012 and for the youth to take a central role in the party's 2012 campaign.

The tour started at Asamankese in the West Akim municipality on March 9, where the constituency and branch youth organizers from nine constituencies in the southern part of the Eastern region were summoned for the meeting.

The national officers of the party, which included the youth organizer, Ludwig Hlodze; national propaganda secretary Richard Quashigah, deputy youth national organizer James Kofi Fonu, Deputy Minister for Environment, Science and Technology Omane Boama, Deputy Minister for Tourism James Agyenim Boateng and a presidential aide, Stan Dogbe, had a rude awakening during an open forum session when most of those gathered complained about the apparent neglect of the youth by the party and lack of employment for them.

The youth were however told by the national officers to work harder for the party to retain power in 2012 but they told their national officers and the young ministers that they were fed up with the empty promises of the government and that most of them were jobless and hungry.

The DAILY GUIDE followed it up with a story and an accompanying picture of the young ministers relaxing at a spot over bowls of 'kokonte', while the youth of the party complained about living on empty stomachs for the past two years that their government had been in power.

As a result of the impact the story made, the Koforidua meeting on Friday was held strictly behind closed doors at the Ascension Hall.

Before the meeting, some executives of the party in the New Juaben South constituency had pleaded with the youth from the Lower Manya, Upper Manya, Yilo Krobo, Asuogyaman, Okere, Akropong, New Juaben South, New Juaben North, Abuakwa South, Abuakwa North, Fanteakwa and Suhum constituencies to comport themselves and not do anything to 'discredit' the party.

They said whatever happened at Asamankese should not be repeated for the 'detractors' of the party to use it against them.

DAILY GUIDE however learnt that similar complaints about the apparent neglect of the youth by the party popped up at meeting.

They youth pointed out that 'some' few selfish party executives and those in government were those enjoying while they were suffering.

The regional party executives were allegedly blamed for the problems in the region.

From Thomas Fosu Jnr, Koforidua