C/R NDC In Disarray As Chairman, Secretary Suspended Over ‘Darling Boy’ 

A simmering drama, has erupted in the camp of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Central Region, days after a parliamentary candidate (PC) was stripped off his position, for allegedly impregnating his constituency secretary’s married wife.

But in a dramatic twist, national executives of the party, swiftly overturned the decision, and announced the immediate suspension of its regional chairman and Assin Central secretary, for what it calls ‘anti-party behaviour’.

Prof. Richard Kofi Asiedu and Sadique Broni Yeboah, are expected to stay away from holding themselves as regional chairman and constituency secretary of the party respectively, for a period of one month.

The suspended chairman, has been ordered to hand over every property of the NDC to his Vice Chairman, Ekow Okyere Panyin Eduamoah, to superintendent over activities of the party until the decision is reversed.

The decision was arrived at after a crunch meeting at the national headquarters in Accra, summoned by the Functional Executive Committee (FEC) on Tuesday July 2.

This was after national executives, were informed through the media of the withdrawal of the party’s candidate for Assin Central constituency, Nurein Shaibu Mijima.

Prof. Asiedu and the regional Functional Executive Committee, after a complaint by Broni Yeboah against the PC, purportedly instituted an investigation and consequently announced the withdrawal of his candidature in a letter dated June 28, and place a six month ban on him for the same anti-party conduct, while the regional disciplinary committee, looks further into the case.

Shaibu Mijima, was accused of not only sleeping with the wife of his friend and NDC Assin Central secretary, but allegedly impregnated the married woman and moved her from her matrimonial home to rent an apartment for her at Kasoa.

The PC in an interview, expressed surprise at the action of the regional Secretariat of the party, describing it as a ‘nightmare’.

Power Play

But, following the meeting by the national executives, which had in attendance the regional chairman and secretary, the party said “The purported withdrawal of the Assin Central Parliamentary Candidate is unlawful as neither you nor the supposed “Regional Functional Executive Committee” has the locus or power or authority to withdraw a serving Parliamentary Candidate of the party from a national election”.

The NDC, disclosed the reason for which the candidate was removed, was unfounded and had no basis at all.

It said, for his role as the chairman of the region and having led in that action, the axe fell on him.

“The reasons which underpinned the purported withdrawal of the Assin Central Parliamentary Candidate are totally false and without any basis whatsoever. You played a lead role in the purported withdrawal of the Assin Central Parliamentary Candidate in clear violation of express directives given to you by the General Secretary and the National Chairman of the party”, the statement signed by General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey said.

Anti-Party Behavior

The opposition party, also found the announcement of the withdrawal in the public domain very offensive, especially when it had no grounds in the party’s law.

“By publicly announcing your purported withdrawal of the Assin Central Parliamentary Candidate, knowing very well that same was without any legal or reasonable justification, you have engaged in clear anti-party behavior and brought the name of the party into disrepute.

Consequently, FEC has resolved to suspend you and hereby suspends you from your position as the Central Regional chairman of the NDC for a period of one month effective immediately”.

It said, “You are therefore directed to immediately handover any party property in your custody to the regional vice chairman, Hon, Ekow Okyere Panin Eduamoah and to desist from holding yourself out as the party’s Central Regional Chairman forthwith”.

The statement, also observed that it took into concentration, Dr Asiedu’s past behavior, adding that, being reinstated will partly be dependent on how he conducts himself at this time that he is under suspension.

“In arriving at a decision on this matter, FEC took judicial notice of your defiance of express directive by the national leadership of the party on several occasions in times past. Kindly note that the lifting of your suspension will be subject to your good behavior during the period of your suspension”.

Recall that last week, the region announced the suspension of  Nurein Shaibu Mijima, for reasons stated above.

The shocking news which went viral was quickly responded to by the national with an express letter from the General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey, who summoned the chairman and secretary for a meeting on Tuesday July 2.

But after deliberations, the party found no fault with the PC and so announced him as the candidate. “Accordingly, Comrade Migyima, remains the NDC parliamentary candidate of Assin Central for the upcoming general elections in December 2024”, the party confirmed.

Dr Asiedu on the other hand, who together with the regional FEC, failed to inform national executives, has been punished with a one month suspension, with same applying to the complainant, Broni Yeboah.

Source: Anchorghana.com