NDC fires 3 MPs

• Posted on December 4, 2015
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

There is suspension galore currently going on in the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Three parliamentary candidates for the 2016 general elections – two from the Greater Accra Region – have been suspended by the party for indulging in what officials say are ‘misconduct and anti-party’ activities.

Incumbent NDC MP for La Dadekotopon, Nii Amasah Namoale, who was re-elected to contest on the ticket of the party, Samuel Nettey George aka Sam George, who defeated veteran E.T. Mensah in Ningo-Prampram, as well as Gloria Huzey, who urged out Afrifa Yamoah Ponkoh in Ejisu in the Ashanti Region, have all been suspended with immediate effect.

Namoale’s Charge

A news release issued by the NDC Greater Accra Regional Executives and signed by the secretary, Victor Quarshie Adonoo, said Nii Amasah Namoale had termed some of the executives of the party as ‘fraudsters and pickpockets.”

“On November 21, 2015, you contravened Article 40 (8c) when you granted interview to the media accusing the Regional Executives of perpetrating fraud to the benefit of your contender and calling some of the executives as ‘fraudsters and pickpockets’.

“The Regional Party and its Executives find this act as an affront to democracy and attempt to drag the party’s image into disrepute. These anti-party conducts or activities have embarrassed the party and brought the party into hatred, ridicule and contempt; hence, must not go unpunished in order to protect the sanctity of Article 40 (8b) and 41 (3a) of the party’s constitution,” the statement averred.

“I have been directed by the Regional Executive Committee to inform you of your suspension from the party with effect from 1^st December, 2015 pending hearing by the Disciplinary Committee,” the suspension letter indicated.

Splashing Cash

DAILY GUIDE learnt that Nii Amasah Namoale alleged on Peace FM immediately after the primaries that if he knew some elements in the NDC were going to splash cash on voters, he would not have campaigned.

He claimed on the same network and others that the NDC secretly registered more of its members and paid money to those in the computer room to insert their names into the biometric voter register when the registration was long over and added that when he decided to complain, the executives told him not to say anything because it was going to tarnish the image of the ruling party.

He alleged that while names were being smuggled into the register, names of his immediate family members – his wife and in-laws – had been expunged in order to ensure his defeat.

Sam George Lies

In the case of Sam George who is currently cooling off in the United States where his wife was said to have delivered recently, the Regional Secretary said in the suspension letter: “I have been directed by the Regional Executive Committee to inform you of your suspension from the party with effect from 1^st December, 2015, pending hearing by the Disciplinary Committee.

“On 21^st November 2015, you contravened Article 41 (3a) and 40 (8b & c) when you instigated people against the regional executive monitoring team and granted interview to the media accusing the regional executives of perpetrating fraud to the benefit  of your contender. The Disciplinary Committee will contact you soon.”

Anti-Party Activity

Later the Greater Accra Regional NDC communications officer, Jerry Johnson, told Joy FM that “Sam George granted an interview and accused the Regional Executives and almost everybody except himself, and went to the extent of saying that his name was not on the register, when it was not true. He has engaged in anti-party activity by accusing us wrongly.”

Physical Attack

“Because of his protest, they came to the Regional Office and physically attacked the Regional Executives they found in the premises.  We kept quiet over it because politics is a game of numbers and everybody is needed on board,” the letter pointed out.

Johnson added that “From there we did some consultations with the National Executives and we had to postpone the election until the following day.

“The following day, the regional team led by the Regional Chairman, Ade Coker, and the Deputy Regional Minister, Isaac Nii Djanmah Vanderpuiye, Regional Organiser and a whole lot of people went to the ground. I wish you were there to see what occurred. There was physical attack. They went to the extent of damaging the vehicle of the Regional Organiser.

“It is unfortunate we have to talk about some of these things in the media but we have to resolve it and find our way out. Apart from that, you have won the election and I thought somebody should shut up somewhere for us to unite and move on but you grant interviews maligning everybody. Even in the animal kingdom, there are rules and regulations.”

National Executives

In the ensuing confusion, Koku Anyidoho, Deputy General Secretary in-charge of Operations, issued a release from the NDC headquarters confirming the decisions taken by the Regional Executives and said the cases involving Nii Amasah Namoale and Sam George were under review.

“The Functional Executive Committee (FEC) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is by this release putting it out that the issues relating to Nii Amasah Namoale and Sam George, as presented by the Greater Accra Regional Office of the party, are under review per the rules of practice.”

The release however said that “The National Executive Committee of the NDC has upheld the decision of the Ashanti Regional Executives to suspend Gloria Huzey, parliamentary candidate for Ejisu, for her unacceptable comments in relation to the re-appointment of a District Chief Executive. The matter has been referred to the National Disciplinary Committee for expeditious adjudication.”

Gloria was said to have strongly protested the re-nomination of the former MCE for Ejisu/Juaben, Yamoah Ponkoh, accusing the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development of underhand dealings.

By William Yaw Owusu