As Asiedu Nketia’s 17-year grip over party comes under threat
The December 2022 National Delegate Congress of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is heating up and getting acrimonious between the outgoing General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia and National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, whose position is being hotly contested by the General Secretary.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo, has since responded to attacks on his person by Mr Asiedu Nketia, describing his claims as unfounded and unwarranted.
But the race will get dirtier by the day as details The Herald is picking up signals that suggest that party resources and finances, have not been well accounted for by the current NDC leadership, and the two camps are silently going at each other over accountability and transparency.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo, has since admonished the party, saying “we must all remember that the internal elections of the NDC are a family contest and not an internecine war against ourselves. The real opponent is out there – the New Patriotic Party who have inflicted untold hardship on our people. Ghanaians will not forgive us if we fail to rescue them from the current economic malaise that we find ourselves in. May it not be said that we failed because we were busy throwing mud at one another and took our eyes off the real enemy”.
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In an interview on Kumasi-based Oyerepa FM, Mr Asiedu Nketiah, who has been at post for nearly 17 years, among other things, questioned some decisions made by the national chairman, which he said were without the approval of the party’s leadership.
He cited the party’s withdrawal from the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election in 2019, emphasising that the national chairman, in a unilateral decision, announced the NDC’s withdrawal.
According to Asiedu Nketiah, who was elected as the General Secretary position in 2005 at the party’s congress in Koforidua in the Eastern Region, Ofosu-Ampofo, took the decision in his absence but this, has incurred the wrath of outspoken former Member of Parliament (MP) for Kumbungu in the Northern Region, Ras Mubarak.
Mr Mubarak, questioned Asiedu Nketiah’s absence from the country during a crucial by-election and admonished him to stop the blame game because “the General Secretary cannot absolve himself from the poor showing”.
In a facebook, Mr Mubarak wrote “Delegates must reject any campaign message hinged on blaming others, but ourselves. The General Secretary must equally accept blame for the poor showing in Ayawaso and the many other bad decisions of the party. I’m not a fan of Chairman Ofosu’s leadership style, but the General Secretary cannot absolve himself from the poor showing. If the campaign message is to fault Ofosu Ampofo but himself, then he brings nothing new to the table. As an ELECTED OFFICER of the party what was he doing outside of the country at a time of a crucial by-election? Staying too long at party HQ breeds inertia.
Earlier, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo, in a statement posted on his facebook page, on Monday, stated that “it is my considered view that the quest to lead in the NDC’s impending internal elections must be about who is more experienced and competent, and not vile personal attacks. I therefore seize this opportunity to admonish all seeking election into various positions, from Constituency to Region to National to be minded to engage in campaigns that market their track-record, leadership abilities, experience, vision and strategic direction for the party. Ultimately, the delegates of our party will have the opportunity to assess every candidate on the strength of their personality and ability to lead and not personal attacks”.
The former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development stated that “We must all be guided by the fact that after all is said and done, the party must unite at all levels to prosecute a single agenda of rescuing our country from the clutches of the misrule and economic mismanagement being supervised by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government. It is therefore important to guard against incendiary language, finger-pointing and personal attacks that have the potential to jeopardise any effort at reconciliation after this electioneering process.
Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, insists he has discharged his responsibilities as the National Chairman of the party faithfully, adding Mr Asiedu Nketia’s attacks on him are unfounded, insisting that the latter is doing this due to his quest to unseat him.
“I have become aware of a viral interview granted to a media house by the General Secretary of my party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in which he makes various references to my person, leadership style and stewardship as National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress.
“Throughout my entire adult life, I have faithfully, dutifully, and conscientiously served the National Democratic Congress in various capacities. “I have done so with honour and dignity while resisting every temptation to vilify political opponents,” he said.
However, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo, said he will not respond to the said allegations made at his person due to his position in the party.
Having regard to the high office of party chairman which I occupy and the onerous responsibility of overseeing a successful reorganisation of our party in our quest to wrest power in 2024, I have decided not to respond to the said accusations.
Meanwhile, he has asked party members to put the interest of the party above all others.
“I hold the view that it is totally out of place for party officials to divulge or discuss internal party matters that are within their knowledge by virtue of their privileged position, in the media or on any public forum.
“It is within this spirit that I elect to refrain from commenting on the merit or otherwise of the matters that were referenced in the said interview, including high-level party decisions that are supposed to be held in confidence,” he added.
Below is the full statement of Mr Ofosu-Ampofo titled “IGNORE ATTACKS ON CHAIRMAN OFOSU AMPOFO. 17/10/22”
I have become aware of a viral interview granted to a media house by the General Secretary of my party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in which he makes various references to my person, leadership style and stewardship as National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress.
Having regard to the high office of party chairman which I occupy and the onerous responsibility of overseeing a successful reorganisation of our party in our quest to wrest power in 2024, I have decided not to respond to the said accusations.
Throughout my entire adult life, I have faithfully, dutifully and conscientiously served the National Democratic Congress in various capacities. I have done so with honour and dignity, while resisting every temptation to vilify political opponents.
I hold the view that it is totally out of place for party officials to divulge or discuss internal party matters that are within their knowledge by virtue of their privileged position, in the media or on any public forum. It is within this spirit that I elect to refrain from commenting on the merit or otherwise of the matters that were referenced in the said interview, including high-level party decisions that are supposed to be held in confidence.
It is important to underscore the fact that Former President John Dramani Mahama remains the only surviving Former President of the NDC tradition, a true statesman whose stellar record in office is widely celebrated. References to the Former President in discussing sensitive party matters in the public domain relative to one’s internal election campaign, as was done in the said media interview is quite unfortunate and regrettable. As a statesman of our political tradition, the least we can do to honour him is to jealously guard against commentary that brings his name and that of the party into disrepute and needless acrimony.
It is my considered view that the quest to lead in the NDC’s impending internal elections must be about who is more experienced and competent, and not vile personal attacks. I therefore seize this opportunity to admonish all seeking election into various positions, from Constituency to Region to National to be minded to engage in campaigns that market their track-record, leadership abilities, experience, vision and strategic direction for the party. Ultimately, the delegates of our party will have the opportunity to assess every candidate on the strength of their personality and ability to lead and not personal attacks.
We must all be guided by the fact that after all is said and done, the party must unite at all levels to prosecute a single agenda of rescuing our country from the clutches of the misrule and economic mismanagement being supervised by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government. It is therefore important to guard against incendiary language, finger-pointing and personal attacks that have the potential to jeopardise any effort at reconciliation after this electioneering process.
Finally, we must all remember that the internal elections of the NDC are a family contest and not an internecine war against ourselves. The real opponent is out there – the New Patriotic Party who have inflicted untold hardship on our people. Ghanaians will not forgive us if we fail to rescue them from the current economic malaise that we find ourselves in. May it not be said that we failed because we were busy throwing mud at one another and took our eyes off the real enemy.
Long live the NDC.
Signed.
Hon. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo
(National Chairman, NDC)
