Gbeho: Don’t blame leaders for NDC congress violence

Victor Gbeho, former National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for the Anlo Constituency of the Volta Region, has denied assertions that the reported violence at the party's national delegates' congress at Koforidua was instigated by some officials of the party.

Indeed, Mr Gbeho maintains the party should not be blamed for any reported violence at the congress, which has been alleged by some sections of the populace and media. He insisted that the congress was held within the hall and as such the party cannot be held responsible for whatever happened outside the walls of that building.

In an exclusive interview with The Statesman, Mr Gbeho accused his former National Chairman, Obed Yao Asamoah, of “buying” the media, pointing to various reports of hooliganism, violence and assault registered at the congress and dutifully relayed to the public by the media personnel present as proof of his assertion.

“All this noise shows how much the media was in the pocket of Obed Asamoah,” he charged.

As a result, Mr Gheho sees the party's chances of wrestling power from the ruling New Patriotic Party in the 2008 general elections as increasingly bright following the resignation of some “in-house antagonists” of the party, notably the former Chairman.

Mr Gbeho said the departure of Dr Asamoah, Frances Assiam and Kwaku Baah, as well as some prospective 'intended quitters' whose number he equated to “less than a dozen,” would rather enable the party to really sit up in order to restructure its activities in a manner that would enable it grow in strength. The former Foreign Minister in the NDC regime, who initially joined the race for NDC National Chairman, was prevailed upon by party bosses to step aside for the eventual winner, Kwabena Adjei, in order to secure what party insiders describe as “intra-regional balance,” after growing disquiet within the party that its leadership was dominated by southern Voltarians.

Dr Adjei is the former MP for Biakoye Constituency in northern Volta. Mr Gbeho attributed the resignation of some former NDC executives to their poor show at the delegates' congress, adding that the results of the election were an indication that the party was fed up with their leadership style, which he described as “dictatorial, obnoxious and unwelcome.”

He further likened Dr Asamoah's departure to a child who, whilst playing with his mates, “takes his football off the field of play just because the goals were not coming in his favour.”

Mr Gbeho, however, entreated the party's followers not to panic about recent developments in the party since, as he puts it: “these are going to bring fortune to the party.”