NDC communicators in Ahanta West constituency of Western Region, have accused their party’s leadership of illegally nominating some party members as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, describing their action as “Kweku Ananse style of nomination.”
According to them, one Engineer Ebenezer Aidoo, who has been nominated as the Ahanta West Municipal Chief Executive, passed through the back door because he was not part of the three shortlisted candidates for the position.
The three people shortlisted, they said, were Louis Ansah, Ebenezer Essien and Lawrence Afuweley.
The communicators also insist that nominations in other areas such as Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, Effia-Kwesimintim municipality and Mpohor district were done through the back door because the nominees were not part of the shortlisted candidates.
They have consequently called on leadership to come out and explain the criteria used in carrying out the exercise to help save them from taking the law into their own hands.
Gross illegalities
At a press conference organized by the communicators over the weekend to express their displeasure over these ‘illegalities’, they did not mince words in pointing accusing fingers at Ibrahim Mahama, the president’s brother, and George Opare Addo, the Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, as the architects.
They also blamed their regional leadership including Nana Kojo Torku, the party chairman now serving on numerous juicy boards, and Joseph Nelson, the regional minister, for failing to fight for MMDCE positions for communicators after securing their own appointments.
Samuel Cudjoe, the spokesperson for the communicators, told the media that Mr. Ebenezer Essein was the preferred candidate for the Ahanta West Municipal Chief Executive position but the MP for the area, Mavis Kukua Bissue-Boateng, sees him as a threat to her seat and therefore used her links with Ibrahim Mahama and Opare Addo to push Engineer Aidoo through the back door.
He described Mr. Essein, the party’s deputy regional communication officer, as a hardworking grassroot person whose competence cannot in any way be matched by that of the nominee.
“Just compare Essien’s competence, hardwork, loyalty and dedication to NDC over the years with that of Engineer Aidoo. This is a man who used his energy and personal resources to vigorously campaign for NDC during its eight years in opposition. So, on what basis was this hardworking communicator sidelined for Engineer Aidoo. Leadership owes us an explanation”, he stressed.
Raw deal
He indicated that the raw deal given by Mr. Essein clearly shows that there is no need sacrificing for NDC because party members with links or connection at the top hierarchy, will at the end of the day influence selection of appointees.
Wondering whether communicators are second-class members and not qualified enough to be appointed as MMDCEs, Mr. Cudjoe reiterated calls on leadership to come and explain things to them.
The Ahanta West NDC constituency executives have however congratulated Engineer Aidoo on his nomination, saying he deserves that honour done him by the ‘president.’
In a press release signed and issued by the constituency secretary, Mr. Isaac Simmons Bassaw, the executives expressed confidence in Aidoo’s ability to partner President Mahama in executing his re- setting agenda in the municipality.
They have therefore pledged to leave no stone unturned in ensuring the nominee’s confirmation in just one-touch balloting.
Story by Yaaba Yamikeh, Agona Nkwanta
