The battle for resigned Eric Amoateng`s seat... JJ HITS HARD AT NDC EXECUTIVES

•As they block chances of ex-MP
•But son apologises to father, who is being cornered by NPP

AS THE National Democratic Congress (NDC) goes to congress on Saturday to endorse the sole contender, Dr. Kofi Amoako, the son of the former MP, who contested in 2004 and lost narrowly to the resigned Mr. Eric Amoateng of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), for the Nkoranza North by-elections, this paper, can report that all is not well with the NDC.

Our reports indicate that the 31-year old medical doctor, who is to be endorsed against his father, has brought serious consternation within the party hierarchy and incurred the displeasure of the founder of the NDC, Mr. J. J. Rawlings.

Accordingly, this paper learnt that the former President, who is reported to have fumed against the decision of the party executives to allow Dr. Amoako, to contest instead of his father, Mr. Halifax Francis Amoako, the former MP who is popularly known by the electorate in Nkoranza North, has summoned the two party gurus.

The NDC founder, who could not understand reasons for blocking the chances of the NDC former MP and hit hard at the party executives, met first with Mr. Amoako and talked him into allowing sleeping dogs to lie and asked for his blessings for his son in the common interest of the NDC.

This paper has gathered that those at the receiving end of flak from Mr. Rawlings were Mr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofu, the national organizer of the NDC, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the General Secretary of the party and Hon. Collins Dauda, MP for Abetifi South for their roles in preventing the ex-MP from contesting the primaries with his son, scheduled for Saturday.

The 31-year-old Dr. Amoako has also met with the founder of the NDC and he was asked to apologize to his father so that the father can graciously bless him.

At a party meeting on Tuesday this week, ahead of today's congress, Dr. Amoako, has unreservedly apologized to his father, Mr. Amoako, a former assistant Registrar at the Kumasi Polytechnic.

His father after listening to the words of the NDC founder reluctantly bestowed his blessings upon his son, this paper can report.

Against what he has done, this paper can report that reports on the ground suggests that the family of Mr. Amoako is sharply divided to the extent that fear has gripped the candidate to be elected.

Our signals also revealed that there are covert and overt means of the NPP to poach the former NDC MP into their camp.

In addition, there are delegations from the camp of the NPP to meet with the NDC stalwart and indications picked by this paper from sources close to the NDC firebrand, revealed that he is likely to shift camp when the campaign reaches its climax in support of NPP.

Mr. Amoako and the general Secretary, Mr. Nketia, however denied any friction within the party in a telephone chat with this paper yesterday.

Mr. Asiedu Nketiah, who told this paper that he has just returned from Kumasi said, it was not true that the founder was angry and lashed at them.

Mr. Amoako also told this paper that the whole story was untrue. “I am currently out of Accra, I will be coming to Accra today and I will discuss the matter with you but you may misfire if you go ahead with the story.”

The Nkoranza by-election is necessitated due to the resignation of Hon. Eric Amoateng, who is currently languishing in UK prison over his alleged involvement in cocaine deals.