After JJ`s threat to leave party NDC CHAIRMEN REBEL AGAINST MILLS… Vow to humiliate him

Information gathered by The Chronicle indicate that some members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), in the New Edubiase Constituency in the Ashanti Region, are seriously nursing moves to block the confirmation of Nana Oppong Kyekyeku, as District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Adansi South District.

The members, according to sources, are enjoying the full support of key members of the current executives in the constituency. Nana Oppong Kyekyeku was nominated by President John Evans Atta Mills last week for the DCE position, following the rejection of Mr. Opoku Manu by the local assembly. Mr. Manu needed 36 votes from the 53-member Assembly to pass the test, but obtained 32 in the first round, and managed 30 in the second round.

The NDC Constituency Chairman for New Edubiase, Mr. Festus Addai, who is said to be leading the machination, confirmed the story when contacted on phone on Friday.

He argued that the New Edubiase Constituency, which together with the Akrofuom constituency, constitute the Adansi South District, had since 1992 remained committed to the party, but had had nothing in return by way of appointments of DCEs, and advised the President to withdraw the nomination of Nana Oppong Kyekyeku, to avoid embarrassment.

Mr. Addai added that he and his group masterminded Mr. Opoku Manu's failure in the two elections, because they had earlier appealed to the President to withdraw his nomination.

“Adansi South will continue to remain without a DCE, should the President refuse to heed our plea for a DCE from the New Edubiase Constituency.”

The Chairman insisted that he had the majority support from the assembly members, and that the same plot that saw Mr. Opoku Manu not confirmed, would be applied on the new nominee. The Constituency Youth Organiser, Mr. Eric Ofori, also corroborated our story, and hinted that the youth wing of the party in the constituency would within the week embark on a peaceful demonstration to express their discomfort about the President's decision.

It is not clear whether the views of the two represent that of the entire executive, as efforts to reach the other executives proved futile.

However, when Nana Oppong Kyekyeku, who is also the NDC Constituency Chairman for Akrofuom, was contacted on phone, he had a different view.

“Some of these comments are normal in politics, but I am hopeful that with my relationship with them, it is possible they would soften their stand, if even they have thought of working against me,” he said.

The nominee said when his name was first mentioned, he personally called the NDC Constituency Chairman for New Edubiase, to inform him about it.

The nominee, who was optimistic about his confirmation, added, “Mr. Addai is my brother, and that he will not do anything to cause my failure.”

The nomination of Nana Oppong Kyekyeku was preceded by a series of petitions from the two constituencies (New Edubiase and Akrofuom), with each appealing to the President to nominate a candidate from their constituency.

Meeting with Majority Leadership
In a related development, the twenty-three Constituency Chairmen of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Greater Accra Region, who went to see the Founder of the party, former President Rawlings, and told him of their frustrations, have taken their plight to the Majority Caucus in Parliament.

At a three-hour marathon meeting with the leadership of the Majority group in Parliament, led by Majority Leader, Alban Bagbin, and Chief Whip, Enoch Teye Mensah, the disenchanted chairmen accused President John Evans Atta Mills and members of his administration of failing to liaise with they the footsoldiers who worked hard to bring the party to power.

This, according to them, was causing great discontent within the rank and file of the party, and stressed on the urgent need for President Mills to endeavour to consider the views of the people, in policy and political decision-making.

The group, which was led by the Constituency Chairman for La Dade Kotopon, Magnus Anyetei Sowah, said aside the lack of consultation with the constituency chairmen, it was disturbing that the Mills administration did not deem it fit to appoint any of the 27 constituency chairmen, or executive members in the region, to positions in government.

“None of us was appointed Minister, head of a public institution or board. Ironically, it is people who retired from active politics after the 2000 loss, and others who openly flirted with the New Patriotic Party, who are today around the President. Constituency chairmen, executives and members, who fought day and night with the President to clinch victory, have been totally forgotten,” they said.

According to the chairmen, efforts at channelling their concerns had been rebuffed at both party level and at the Castle. Several attempts to see the party Chairman, General Secretary or the President, have all met brick-walls, with explanations that they are not readily available.

“At the presidency, we have been told that when the president is ready we will be called, but that call has not been forthcoming months after our meeting requests were submitted.”

According to the constituency chairmen, they had been yearning to meet the presidency and the party leadership to inform them about the feelings on the ground, but aside the founder, former President Rawlings, there had been deliberate attempts to sideline them.

They noted that the 2008 election was a make or break affair, and that several of their members sacrificed their jobs, properties, and time, to make victory certain, but have been completely ignored since President Mills took power.

The constituency chairmen also accused some of their own members of Parliament (MPs), of deserting the party at the constituency level since they found their way into the House, and therefore asked the leadership to call them to order.

“Two of our colleagues lost their jobs during the NPP era, for being openly NDC, but no effort has been made to look into their cases, and these people are out of work and unable to cater for themselves. There is also the sad story of a Constituency Chairman whose properties were totally burnt at Gushiegu, but no efforts have been made to assist him, and now he is destitute and living in a shack. We need a party that really cares for its people. This does not augur well for party cohesion, unity and development,” they cautioned.

On their part, the Majority Leader, Alban Bagbin and Chief Whip, E. T. Mensah, expressed gratitude to the constituency chairmen for sending their grievances across, and assured them of their readiness to relay their plight to President Mills, and if possible, a meeting arranged with the President for these concerns to be discussed into detail.

The constituency chairmen thanked the parliamentary leadership and former President Rawlings for giving them audience, and hoped that other party leaders would take a cue and hear their concerns.