I have not been dumped by NDC -Yamoah Ponkoh yells

A LEADING MEMBER of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ashanti Region, Mr. Afrifah Yamoah Ponkoh has denied media reports that sought to suggest that he has been neglected by the ruling party, describing the publication as a figment of one's own imagination.

The Ashanti Regional Operations Director of the NDC says it would be wrong for anybody to think that he has fallen out of favor just because he was not selected to be considered for the position of the CEO for the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA).

According to him, he still remains an active member of the NDC and would continue to preach and defend the good policies of the government.

“The fact that I was not short-listed for the position does not mean I have been rejected by the party,” the firebrand NDC member noted.

A publication by an Accra-based national daily implied that the former Director of Operations of Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club has been dumped by the ruling party after his application for the position of Metropolitan Chief Executive Officer of Kumasi was not considered.

But Mr. Yamoah Ponkoh has rubbished the publication, describing it as an attempt by a section of the media to sow seed of discord between him and the NDC. According to him, there is a smooth relationship between him and the rest of the regional executives of the party and that he does not harbor any ill-feeling about his inability to secure the mandate of the party for the KMA job.

He told The Chronicle in reaction to the publication that what occurred between him and the Vetting committee was as a result of lack communication, saying the anomaly had long been rectified and a compromise had been reached.

The NDC leading member explained that in the convention of the party every constituency in the Kumasi Metropolis was supposed to present one candidate to be considered for the position, but the constituency which he represent submitted two candidates, as a result of which the party was left with no choice but to consider one applicant, a reason which according to him, led to his name being left out of the final list.

He said, he was not the only qualified person in the region to merit the position, adding that “competence, skill and expertise abound in the NDC, so the fact that I was not considered for the job by the Vetting Committee did not mean there was nobody who qualified for the position”.

The former Director of Communication of the Reformed Patriotic Democrat (RPD) denied the assertion that he failed to meet the expectations of the Regional Vetting Committee because he did not possess a degree or certificate qualification, indicating that “the possession of a degree was not part of the criteria for the short-listing of candidates, otherwise I can bet you that I may not have the degree but I have the qualities in me.”

“To me, I believe it was a contest and I know I was beaten to it, period!” he stressed and called on the media to avoid the unnecessary sensationalism and the misinterpretation of issues”.

Mr. Yamoah Ponkoh also denied reports that he and the Regional Secretary of the party, Mr. Doe Tamakloe were at loggerheads, saying the relationship between them has been cordial.