…Victor Smith reveals as former Adenta MP also chases outgoing general secretary gidi gidi gidi
Barring any last minute hitches, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) will hold its delegates’ congress this Saturday, December 17, 2022 at the Accra Sports Stadium to elect the national executives, including General Secretary, National Chairman, National Communications Director among others.
But ahead of the contest this weekend, final minutes jibes and bombshells are being dropped all over the place and the latest to do so, is former High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland, who has alleged that John Dramani Mahama, the party’s presumptive flagbearer for the 2024 election, doesn’t want Johnson Asiedu Nketiah as NDC National Chairman.
Victor Smith, a former Special aide to the late President Jerry John Rawlings, revealed that ex-President Mahama and other leaders of the NDC, had advised Mr Asiedu Nketiah, vying for the chairmanship slot of the party against the incumbent, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, as it will create unnecessary tension and division in the rank and file of the party, but he refused to listen to them.
Victor Smith, a loyalist of ex-President Mahama, also revealed that the outgoing NDC General Secretary, ahead of the selection of Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang,wanted to be the party’s running mate in the 2020 elections, but was snubbed.
Mr Smith, a one-time Eastern Regional Minister, suggested that the rejection of Mr Asiedu Nketiah by President Mahama, made him (Nketiah) bitter and was why he decided to disregard his advice and contest for the chairmanship position of the party.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s ‘Adekye Mu Nsem’ hosted by Citizen Kofi Owusu, Mr Smith said “He had it (the intention to be running mate) in 2020. Like, I said JM (John Dramani Mahama), in consultation with the leaders, had different ideas. If this is not true, somebody should come and tell me.
“When the General Secretary called me one evening and indicated that he wanted to contest for the party’s chairmanship position, I told him that he was going to cause trouble in the party. But the general secretary, told me that he had already made up his mind.
“I told him that his move would lead to people spilling out some secrets, but he did not listen. John Dramani Mahama and the party leaders, advised him not to contest, but he said he had already decided and it was a democracy,” he said in Twi.
Victor Smith, urged the NDC delegates to retain Ofosu Ampofo, as the National Chairman and consider Asiedu Nketiah as the campaign manager for 2024.
According to him, since Asiedu Nketiah in his campaign is telling the NDC, that he is fearless and has courage, it is just appropriate to make him the campaign manager to move the machine, since 2024 is near.
“…2024 is near, we make him the campaign manager to move the machine because that is what he tells us he is capable of doing but not as chairman, he is looking in the wrong direction unless maybe he has ulterior motive” he said.
“Infact, what he is trying to do, his chairmanship, wouldn’t help us as a party based on what he said he is going to do for us; ‘I am fearless’, fearless from doing what? When you don’t have the power? You are just the chairman, you preside over FEC and NEC meetings” he added.
Meanwhile, a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Adenta constituency, Kojo Adu Asare, who has also spoken on Simpieso, a political talk show airborne on the same Ahotor FM on Friday, December 9, 2022 with Emmanuel Martey, Alaska De Don, questioned why the ‘so-called’ courageous Asiedu Nketiah, was nowhere to be found during the Ayawaso bye-election
Mr Adu Asare, described as unfortunate comments made by the general secretary of the party against Chairman Ofosu Ampofo on the Ayawaso bye-election boycott.
He indicated that, they expected the general secretary to know better and questioned whether it was the right time for him to travel out of the country, to pursue his personal interest knowing very well that such a critical election will take place.
“…was that the best time to travel outside the country? By his calculations, knowing the time and season, was that the best time to travel” he stressed
“You left your party behind to pursue a personal self-aggrandizement position; something that will benefit you. After you returned, you were not here, you didn’t see it, you didn’t even smell it and you classify the person who stood to take such a critical decision as a weakling?
“The one who ran away and the one who faced the challenge, who is courageous?” he quizzed.
He indicated that one’s track record speaks highly of him and can show whether he/she is courageous or just saying it by mouth.
“I’ve tested Asiedu Nketiah’s courage, there is nothing to show ” he said, adding “If Asiedu Nketiah’s son was shot at Ayawaso, he wouldn’t be making those comments”.
The Ayawaso bye-election took place on January 31, 2019, after the death of the incumbent MP, Emmanuel Kyermateng Agyarko on November 21, 2018
Violence erupted in the area of the La -Bawaleshie polling station 2-hours after the election had started which led to some NDC members sustaining various degrees of injuries.
The National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, declared the NDC’s withdrawal from the election because of the intimidation and attack members of the party were going through by some alleged national security personnel.
