Upper East NDC defends Woyongo… But youth disagree
CONFUSION IS said to have engulfed the Upper East branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) following an alleged circulation of fictitious documents by some of the executives to destroy the integrity of the regional Minister.
The Regional Secretary of the NDC, Mr. Donatus Akamugri said since their election into power as executives, some group of people within the party who contested for the regional positions but lost have been doing their best to damage the reputation of their opponents, and to bring the name of the party into disrepute.
Addressing a news conference at Bolgatanga last Saturday, the Secretary condemned the action of those circulating the fictitious documents. According to him, some of the documents sighted by the regional executive committee are on the award of contracts in the region which they claimed were not given to NDC members. This the executive saw as not only criminal but also misleading.
Mr. Akamugri said the procurement law stipulated that the procedure for the award of contracts and the eligibility did not include party affiliation. According to him, if it comes to their notice that contracts were being awarded to party faithful only, but not qualified Ghanaian contractors, they would take serious reservations and the regional executive committee would not condone such practice.
Flanked by the regional chairman, Alhaji Mumuni Bonaba, and his first Vice, Mr. Victor Yayah, Mr. Haruna Issaka, deputy Regional Organizer, Mr. Abdulai Akanno, Bolgatanga constituency chairman, and Mr. Robert Yeli-Oni, regional Youth Organizer, the Regional Secretary cautioned party members that while the executive respected and accepted divergent views in their administration, they shall not tolerate any acts of indiscipline without recourse to the laid down procedure for addressing grievances in the party.
Mr. Akamugri was categorical that the accusers of the regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo in the award of contracts will be summoned before the disciplinary committee of the NDC for their anti-party conduct or activities which is likely to embarrass the party as stated in Act 39 clause 8 A and B of the party's constitutions.
The regional executives stated clearly they have so far enjoyed the tremendous support and co-operation of the regional Minister, Mark Woyongo and his deputy, Lucy Awuni, in the discharge of their administrative duties.
They are, therefore, advising members of the party who are aggrieved to follow the laid down procedure and stop being mischievous, but allow the leadership of the region to focus on the better Ghana developmental agenda. Some of the displeased youth who witnessed the press conference told this paper that they will protest against the stand of their leaders.
Meanwhile the timely intervention of the police at a press conference in Bolgatanga by Coalition for the Welfare of the Masses (COFTWOM)), a self-motivated NDC members in the Upper East Region averted a possible clash that would have ensued after the Bolgatanga constituency Propaganda Secretary of the NDC visited the VAG Hall, venue for the press conference and ordered it to stop. His action did not go down well with one of the members of the coalition who rushed to pounce on him, but was held back by other members.
According to him, members of the coalition had no moral right to hold the press conference to react to the earlier one held by the regional executives of the party who condemned the decision of the coalition for circulating what they said was a fictitious document to discredit the regional Minister.
Members of COFTWOM had held the press conference to kick against the decision by the regional Minister to appoint an NPP stalwart, Mr. Robert Ajeni as the chairman of Upper East@50 Planning Committee, awards of contracts to NPP faithful, victimization of perceived party members who were against him, and the interdiction of the Secretary at the office of regional economic planning.
The coalition resolved that the appointment of Mr. Ajeni as the Chairman of UE@50 be revoked and replaced by a true NDC party man; the Minister should also explain why he had awarded contracts to his nephew and crony at the expense of loyal contractors who supported the party throughout the opposition years without adhering to due process.
The party hierarchy should also take swift steps to investigate the earlier petition sent to the various and appropriate offices in respect of some pertinent issues raised and apply the necessary sanctions where applicabl. It was in the middle of presenting these issues that Malam Yayah stormed the VAG Hall and brought the conference to a halt for about 30 minutes.
While a few members of the coalition wanted to retaliate, others were against it. At a point, Mr. Danka had to run into his car to save his live before the police, who this paper understand were not informed about the press conference, came to intervene.
When the regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo, who is currently in Accra, was contacted, he stated that he has been informed and told of the content of a writ that had been filed in a court in Bolgatanga against him on this matter. He however said he finds the content of the writ laughable, and if his accusers will really pursue the matter, he will surely claim damages for defamation of character because there was no iota of truth in the writ.