Kwaku Baah quits NDC

A former National Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress has resigned from the party. Kwaku Baah, one of the longest serving members of the party, served notice of his resignation in an interview with JOY News.

He said he was compelled to quit because of the harassment and intimidation of persons who disagree with the party founder Jerry Rawlings.

Mr. Baah's resignation is the latest twist to a long running rivalry between Mr. Rawlings and former party chairman, Dr. Obed Asamoah which has created sharp divisions within the NDC.

The bad blood between the two was highlighted at the party's congress in Koforidua recently during which delegates voted massively to reject Dr. Asamoah in favor of a pro-Rawlings candidate.

In the wake of the party congress Mr. Baah accused Mr. Rawlings of hijacking the party.

“I don't think that I can belong to that party any longer. In my political carrier, which spans over a period of 40 years I have never believed that political decisions had to be arrived at as a result of struggling, intimidation and clearly what amounts to a terrorist act. After what I witnessed at the last party congress there is no way I can continue to associated myself with that party.

"What happened at the congress was a forceful takeover and the imposition of a political decision which seem to have been arrived at outside the congress. Rawlings imposed his will by force on every body. That is the general trend and I can't accept the fact that a party can be owned by one person", he said.

Mr. Baah's resignation comes barely a week after the former NDC National Women's Organizer, Frances Essiam, quit the party after she was assaulted by party supporters for making what some consider disparaging remarks about the party founder.

Kwaku Baah, a former NDC National Vice Chairman lost his bid to be retained as one of the six vice chairpersons elected at the just ended 6th National Delegates Congress held in Koforidua.

He was the chairman of three critical committees that supervised the congress. The Committees were Legal, Electoral, and Steering Committees.