Former Deputy Communications Minister, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, says former President Rawlings has the same right like any other member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to express his views on issues in the party. “The NDC is a party with millions of follower so it is not surprise that some members will have different views,” Mr. Kwakye Ofosu said.
The former Deputy Minister under the Mahama-administration was reacting to the former President Rawlings’ explanation to why the NDC lost the 2016 elections. The founder of the NDC, Jerry John Rawlings, on the 37 Anniversary of June 4 Uprising at Wa in the Upper West Region said Ghanaians booted the NDC out of office because of sickening greed, selfishness and corruption. According to Mr. Rawlings, such practices were contrary to the values upheld by the NDC, describing them as a “betrayal of the values of June 4,” which are probity, transparency and accountability.
Speaking to the issue on TV3’s New Day on Monday hosted by Bright Nana Amfoh, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu said “each of those who voted in 2016 has a reason for voting. We have a party of millions and each of them has views so it will be erroneous for anybody to think the internal wrangling in the party led to our defeat”. He said “it is important we [NDC] adopt scientific approach in solving our issues because it is not in the interest of the party to conduct our internal matters like this.
I suggest we use internal channels to resolve the issues”. The Member of Parliament for Effutu Constituency in the Central Region, Alexander Afenyo Markins also assessed that “it is obvious he [Rawlings] wants to come back to power that is why there is power struggling in the NDC”. “It all boils down to power struggle in the NDC and former President had indicated he wants to come back through his conducts but the only way they [NDC] can survive is to take a collective responsibility over their defeat”, the MP added.
By Kweku Antwi-Otoo