The contest between the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and the party’s General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia has already attracted the attention and worrying eyes of the of the party’s National Council of Elders.
The two men are going head to head in a contest to determine who would be the next National Chairman of the party.
Even though the contest is in its early stages, the Elders seem to be already worried with the potential of the race to threaten the internal cohesion of the party.
After a meeting of the Council of Elders on the issue on 26 October 2022, the Chairman of the Council Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu issued a statement calling on the two top NDC executives to be decorous.
“The meeting therefore urged the two principal officers of the party, the national chairman and the General Secretary, to reflect soberly on the situation and be mindful of the overall national interest and the toils of our rank and file over the years to make the party strong, viable and ready to assume the reins of government in 2024,” Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu stated.
Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu stated that the Council of Elders cautioned Mr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia to make it a point to always place first the interest of party cohesion, internal discipline and long-term stability.
The Council also urged the incumbent national chairman and General Secretary “to be circumspect in their campaigns by adhering to ground rules discussed and agreed upon. These include the use of decorous language, refrain from media attacks, breach of confidentiality and misrepresentations of decisions taken in relation to past actions of leadership.”
Concerns have been expressed about the tone of recent interviews granted to selected media houses by Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia and Mr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo with some party members worried about the direct attacks and revelation of confidential party information by the two men.
The Council of Elders of the NDC is of the opinion that party members are justified to expect “that they respect the Party Constitution and the rules and guidelines they themselves set in the conduct of internal elections. They should be the first to uphold party discipline.”
“At the time when the party should be getting itself ready for election 2024 we need nothing other than internal cohesion and togetherness. The country and rank and file of the party expect nothing else,” Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu cautions.
Story: Sena Nombo/Radiogoldlive.com
