Posted
on: www.dailyguideghana.com
By
William Yaw Owusu
Monday,
July 17, 2017
The
deep-seated internal wrangling that culminated in the defeat of the National
Democratic Congress (NDC) during the December 7, 2016 general elections does
not appear to be ending anytime soon.
This is
because there is currently what can be likened to a ‘civil war’ that is tearing
the main opposition party apart.
The
party is gearing up to select a suitable candidate to challenge the ruling New
Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2020 but the continuous accusations and counter-accusations
are not helping the party to re-strategise effectively even after the release
of the report of the Prof Kwesi Botchwey Committee that investigated the NDC’s
massive defeat last year.
DAILY
GUIDE has
stumbled on social media platform conversations that seem to suggest that the confusion
is intensifying in the party by the day, as the call for unity has clearly fallen
on deaf ears.
First Salvo
The
whole Whatsapp Group fight appears to have been triggered by Stan Dogbe, the
trusted aide of former President John Mahama, who is making every effort to lead
the NDC for the 2020 elections when he accused former Deputy Health Minister, Rojo
Mettle-Nunoo of being ‘bitter about funds.’
He threw
the salvo because Mr. Mettle-Nunoo granted a radio interview and accused the
leadership of the NDC of ignoring important research finding that the NDC
messages were not resonating with Ghanaians ahead of the crucial 2016 general
elections.
"Rojo
and his friends who are bitter about funds they were demanding for a research,
should come clean about their supposed issues and stop maligning innocent
people because they did not get the awoof (cheap) money they wanted," Stan
said on NDC CODEC Whatsapp platform.
Rojo Reply
Rojo hit
back, saying “Stan,
I cannot believe you are putting this out about me and my team... Really? When
did we ask for money for research? And at what meeting did this happen?”
Stan
returned fire, saying, “I am very ready, and you are welcome to continue your
already failed agenda. Let's see what you can withstand from your own corner,”
to which the former deputy minister said “Stan...Your response is more bizarre than I
expect from you.”
Rojo
continued: “I asked you a very specific question about when and where I
personally and or my team ever asked you or anybody we may have met for money
for research? What research? We undertook specific research financed
through our own means which we tried severally to share with the President, and
a presidency communication team he assigned to meet us and the NDC party.”
“For
you to go so far as to even suggest we feel peeved because we failed to secure
'awoof' money is an even greater insult to our collective commitment and
integrity,” Rojo exploded again, asking Stan to be more specific because “we
have no such thing as 'a failed agenda.”
Stan Adamant
Stan
Dogbe fought back, saying "But those on platforms with him, and those here
who are in the same presidential candidate campaign team with him should tell
him, Stan says he accepted his challenge/ threat, and is waiting for him. I do
not consider his use of surrogates and gullible others to insult me relevant to
his threat. I will ignore that. I am waiting for him.”
“And I hope
he will not go making phone calls again. Rojo should deny that their mission
was not just to siphon ‘awoof’ money and he hasn't been bitter since about
that."
Rojo retorted,
“People like the former ADC Abdul are rather supporting Stan for his behaviour.
Incredible. They want to crucify the truth but it is not possible.”
Dela Coffie
NDC activist,
Dela Coffie, who has not hidden the fact that Mr. Mahama should never lead the
party again accused supporters of the former President of assassinating the character
of those who want a new leadership for the party.
“Clearly,
this has become the epitome of John Mahama hangers-on,” he posted on Facebook, adding “They will stop at
nothing to attack, berate and character assassinate anyone who genuinely offers
constructive critique of the failed John Mahama leadership.”
“I have
come under a barrage of vicious attacks for daring to ask legitimate questions
on the attempt to bring Mahama back as the leader of the NDC.”
“If they
can do it to Rawlings, General Nunoo Mensah, Agbey and other senior cadres, who
is Dela Coffie? They are free to call me names and say all manner of things
about me but we ain't giving up just yet.”
Intellectual Discourse
“If the
Mahama boys think they have what it takes to engage in intellectual discourse,
they should step up and tell us why the party should bring Mahama back after
his four-year vice presidential reins and another four years as President. They
should tell us why the NDC must bring back a man who has taken the party from
political glory into abyss and in the process crippled all NDC business
men/women to the advantage of his brother-Ibrahim Mahama.
“Isn't
it sickening that people are actually working to shove Mahama down our throats
after such an abysmal showing at the polls as incumbent? A man who reduced our
electoral fortunes from 50.7 in 2012 to 44.4 in 2016 with all the resources at
his disposal?” Dela Coffie charged.
Alabi Lackey
Another
communicator called Benjamin Essuman, who does not hide from the fact that he
supports former University of Professional Studies Rector, Joshua Alabi to
become the NDC flagbearer for 2020, said the NDC should campaign on the
platform of what he called New Hope in 2020.
Essuman, who was part of the Flagstaff House sponsored #I Choose JM ahead of the 2016 polls, suddenly jumped out of the JM
‘sinking ship’ to hang on Alabi for safety, firing Mahama from all cylinders.
Paramza Angle
One of the NDC communicators called Paramza
Kofi Hamza appears to explain the implications for the NDC if the former
President contests again and concluded that Mr. Mahama should not subject himself
to ‘needless assessment.’
“The
question is what will he do differently? From my observation so far, the most
dangerous attempt by Mahama is to try to lead the NDC as the flagbearer,”
adding, should he contest again, possible consequences like losing respect as a
statesman, being denigrated, destruction of his legacy by his own people, not to be trusted to
do anything differently; were awaiting the one-term President.
“He
cannot bring on board supporters who are peeved. His managers are not remorseful and continue
to silence dissenters. Assuming
he wins the primaries, and fails to beat the NPP, will he come again in 2024?
If he is beaten again and decides not to
contest again in 2024, the NDC will be in danger of staying in opposition for
12 to 16 years. That will be the longest since 1992,” Paramza declared.
Divided NDC
He
concluded that “the NDC will be more divided if Mahama contests as we are
seeing already. Coming events, they say, cast their shadows. The best person
who could have united the party is Mahama. Unfortunately, he has decided to be
a player instead of the referee. I love Mahama and I would have wished he kept
his legacy and his image in tact instead of subjecting himself to a needless
assessment.
“The NDC
members must all prepare ourselves physically and psychologically for the
trials and tribulations ahead of us before and after the NDC primaries.”
In the
ensuing debate, one Kwesi Kwandoh teased the anti-Mahama elements in the NDC,
saying “Write all the things about John Dramani Mahama, nobody will sort you
out. Just
continue, may be you want NPP to sort you out because they hate JM,” adding,
“John Mahama will win the primaries, win election 2020 and be sworn in 2021.
If you have a #Candidate just market him.
I am for John Mahama.”
Then a
certain Philip L Koomson, who appears not to support Mahama, threatened to
expose alleged dirty dealings of the former president.
“We are
waiting patiently for the day JM will pick his forms to contest NDC
presidential primaries.
“We will
give his file from KGB to the media for everyone to see his nakedness.”
No comments:
Post a Comment