NDC Trouble-Riddled Congresses Take Off

THE CONSTITUENCY Congress of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) took off across the country last Saturday but not without controversies. Investigation by The Chronicle indicate that some disgruntled leaders and supporters of the party are not happy with the way and manner the processes are being handled by the leadership of the party and are threatening to go to court. The paper gathered that in the Ashanti Region, for instance, most potential aspirants were prevented from taking part in the contest whilst most of the petitions presented by some aggrieved candidates, seeking redresses have not been attended to. The Regional Executives were said to have brushed aside, several complaints presented to them by some disqualified candidates, challenging the legibility of their disqualification from the ongoing contest. The party has up to the end of August this year to complete all Constituency Conferences to pave way for the regional conferences to be followed by the national one. But the party�s electoral calendar could be seriously disrupted in the coming days unless the leadership moves to avert possible court injunction. On Saturday, the party successfully conducted elections in three constituencies; namely Suame, Manhyia North and the Asawase constituencies and followed it up on Sunday with Manhyia South and Kwabre East with popular acclamation. The Chronicle has, however, gathered that the Ashanti Regional executives have resolved not to entertain any petition and are threatening potential candidates with expulsion from the party, should they consider taking any legal action against the party. In the Kwabre East constituency, the former Parliamentary Candidate, Hon. Fatawu Illiasu and other potential candidates were disqualified from contesting in the elections, thanks to the alleged instrumentality of the regional and constituency executives. A popular acclamation was scheduled to be held, at the time of filing this report, for the incumbent chairman, Mohammed Awal Azziz and other executives. Meanwhile, confusion erupted at the Dichemso M/A Junior High School where the Manhyia constituency congress was held after some members raised objection concerning the decision to allow all incumbent executives to go unopposed with the exception of the Constituency Youth Organizer position. The Chronicle also gathered that a formal petition has also been presented to the party regional hierarchy by some aggrieved party loyalists in the Atwima Kwanwoma constituency.