Ministers SACKED…Over 1m NDC Votes

President John Mahama has withdrawn the appointments of the Ashanti Regional Minister, Samuel Sarpong, and his deputy, Joseph Yammin, with immediate effect.

What led to the dismissal of the two top politicians is still a mystery since a statement issued by Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Communications, early Wednesday morning, was silent on the reasons; but it may not be unconnected with the bad blood between them.

The bad blood is said to be undermining the NDC's quest to make a serious incursion in the region in the 2016 elections. The party aims at sweeping one million votes in the main opposition New Patriotic Party's (NPP's) stronghold.

Meanwhile, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Eric Opoku, is returning to the region in an acting capacity until a substantive minister is appointed.

Editor-in-chief of the New Crusading Guide, Kweku Baako, has asked President Mahama to sack the Mayor of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Kojo Bonsu, as well.

He said the mayor has also contributed to the many misunderstandings that have rocked the region in recent times.

He made the statement on Peace FM's morning show, 'Kokrokoo', yesterday when he was asked about his thoughts on the removal of the ministers from office.

Mr Baako said if he were the President he would sack the KMA boss together with the minister and his deputy and that he did not understand why he was still at post.

He indicated that the recent development in the Ashanti Region is a threat to regional security, and that the disturbances it created for the region are worrying.

He noted that although he felt sorry for the regional minister, the factions created in the party as a result of disagreements must be handled before it destabilises the region.

'The regional minister comes out as gentle and I feel sorry that he has been caught in that trap and has become a victim of circumstances,' Mr Baako added.

Security Alert
Reports said that heavily armed joint military/police team rushed to the NDC office at Amakom in Kumasi Wednesday morning immediately the dismissal of the two men was made public.

The move, party insiders said, was to prevent a possible attack of the facility by irate party supporters who are loyal to the sacked ministers. The NDC office was recently attacked by some party elements complaining about neglect by the government.

The party hierarchy therefore feared that the news of the dismissal of the two men might infuriate some members who might try to attack the NDC office in retaliation.

One Million Votes
A section of NDC supporters in the city were of the view that the one million votes agenda in the region caused the calamity which has befallen the two men.

The party insiders alleged that the NDC had not known peace in the Ashanti Region since the one million votes target was made public, with key party men 'fighting' over who should lead the crusade in 2016 regarding the disbursement of funds.

'Ideally, the one million votes' agenda should have become a blessing for the NDC but surprisingly, the move has created deep cracks in the party which could be very difficult for the NDC to heal before the next polls.

'I am of the belief that the struggle to lead the one million votes crusade in the party which has jeopardised party unity, caused the sack of the two men,' an NDC guru told DAILY GUIDE on condition of anonymity.

According to the source, the 'project' comes with its own huge budget and who controls it might become a big problem among the top figures.

Animosity
Some of the NDC faithful also alleged that Sarpong and Yammin didn't see eye-to-eye and that the deep hatred that they have for each other had sparked factions and disunity in the party. Not even intervention by the national executive could let peace prevail.

According to sources, the minister and his deputy nearly exchanged blows in one of their meetings.

Others also observed that Coalition for NDC Foot Soldiers and Activists, which is loyal to Samuel Sarpong – who decided to kick against Yaw Obimpeh, the NDC Chairman – did not help matters.

The coalition members locked the NDC regional office with padlocks on Monday, claiming that Yaw Obimpeh was destroying the party in the area, and their attempt to repeat their action on Tuesday met stiff resistance from NDC Taskforce, believed to be loyal to Yaw Obimpeh.

It took the intervention of armed policemen who quickly dashed to the Amakom office on Tuesday to prevent a possible bloodbath between the two blood-thirsty groups.

Shock
The Ashanti Regional NDC seemed to have been shocked by the unexpected dismissal of the two ministers, which has become the major topic for discussion in Kumasi since yesterday morning.

Sawyyer Ativo, Deputy Regional Chairman, said the (regional) executives of the NDC had been kept in the dark regarding the development.

'Nobody was aware of their dismissal; it has come as a huge surprise to all of us,' Mr Ativo said on radio, arguing that politically the sacking of the two men at the same time was not good.

He was of the view that at least one of them should have been maintained so as to ensure the continuity of party works and strategies being formulated for the 2016 national elections.

Mr Ativo, however, said the Ashanti Regional NDC was fully in support of the President's decision, indicating that they believed the President's decision is in the supreme interest of the party.

Ghost Town
Meanwhile the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), where the regional minster and his deputy were, was as quiet as a ghost town Wednesday morning when the paper visited the place.

Staff at the RCC were seen standing in groups, perhaps, discussing what might have caused the sudden sacking of the two government ministers.

FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi