NDC FAST LOSING GROUNDS -In the Zongos

It is not yet clear to us as at the time of going to press if President Mills' unexpected and unannounced visit to Mamobi, Nima and Mallam-Atta last Tuesday has anything to do with intelligence suggesting dwindling fortunes of his ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Zongos.

The Al-Hajj can unequivocally state today that despite all the favourable predictions of a President Atta Mills win in the December 7th presidential elections later this year, the government of the NDC may be in for a shocker.

Reports reaching The Al-Hajj from the predominantly Muslim Zongo communities across the country reveal that all is not well as the leadership of the party may be made to believe, and this is likely to worsen by election time if concrete steps are not employed to resolve the myriad of problems.

Some areas in many of these Zongos which hitherto were difficult terrain for the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) are now bobbling with vigorous activities of the party thereby swaying most of the NDC youth into their folds.

The Al-Hajj can confirm that in Accra, NDC strangleholds of Nima, Mamoboi, Alajo, New Town, Sukura, Ashaiman and Madina are fast slipping in to the hands of the NPP.

The reasons, according to some research done by this paper revolve around government-party-grassroots relations, exacerbated by the feel of neglect and turf war amongst foot soldiers of the party in the constituencies.

Accra New Town, Kwao Tsuru (Mafia Base to be precise); has since the return to constitutional rule in 1993 been a no-go area for the NPP, but now almost a year before the December 7th polls, NPP flags have suddenly sprung-up and are flying, a situation hitherto could never be imagined.

A similar situation is playing-out at Mamobi, Polyclinic area where the youth, mostly NDC supporters and activists are fast converting to the NPP, because they claim they have been neglected by the party since coming to power.

In the Alajo electoral area in the Ayawaso Central Constituency, NDC party activists and sympathizers are threatening to leave the party if one Aziz Sununu, an Assemblyman is imposed on them as Sub-Metro chairman.

Led by notable figures such as Sadat Razak, Mohamed Ibrahim, Sanni and Alex, the youth claimed Accra Metropolitan Assembly Mayor, Alfred Oko Vanderpuye is scheming to impose his favourite, one Aziz, and he is therefore scuttling all attempts at holding free and fair contest amongst aspirants for the position of Sub-Metro chairman.

According to them, even though they risked their lives to ensure NDC won power without any reward to them ever since, they won't sit down and watch so-called party big wigs, most of who have deserted them come to impose leaders on them.

The youth are insisting that the immediate past sub-metro chairman, Victor Quarshie, who is also the Ayawaso Central Constituency Secretary of the NDC must be allowed to contest for the position in a free and transparent manner or, they will advise themselves.

The uncertain situations are not peculiar to Accra only, in Kumasi, NDC may likely lose the Asawasi Constituency which comprise Aboabo No. 1 and No. 2, Sawaba, Akrom, Nima and Sabon Zongo unless party leadership in Accra dash there early to listen to their concerns.

This is because of the seeming division among the regional executives of the party emanating from the FONKAR/GAME contest. Thus, party activities have been affected in the NDC sole constituency in the Kumasi Metropolis.

In the Asawasi constituency, party youth are seething with anger over the lack of proper recognitions of constituents, as NDC's only 'world bank' in Ashanti. They are fuming because since the removal of Hon. Mubarak as a minister of state; the Asawasi constituency has not a single person representing the people in government.

A similar problem is brewing in Tamale North Constituency in the aftermath of the parliamentary elections of last month.

The internal divisions which emanated before and during the primaries are still threatening the foundation of the party and if care is not taken the party will suffer in the December elections.