NDC finally moves into $20 million office

• Posted on October 15, 2014October 15, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Leadership of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been caught pants down, entangled in a web of lies over ownership of the controversial $20 million building located at Adabraka, a suburb of Accra, as the party moves into the new edifice.

The NDC, sometime ago, strenuously denied ownership of the plush office complex constructed by a Chinese construction firm, even though it had earlier indicated to its members that it was constructing an ultra modern headquarters building in the national capital.

A special newsletter ‘NDC Frontline News’ published by the NDC for its July 2011 congress, which contained the details of the building and other projects being undertaken by the party under the headline, ‘State of the party’, gave credence to Asiedu Nketia’s statement at the NDC congress in Sunyani which indicated that “two sites have been acquired for building a befitting national headquarters. One is at Adabraka in Accra, which is being developed into a four-storey edifice that will eventually serve regional uses.”

The party’s initial reaction when the story about the four-storey twin-tower office complex became public was a virtual and outright denial and had since maintained that position until recently when its National Organiser, Yaw Boateng Gyan, was compelled by circumstances to admit on radio that the building which is yet to be officially commissioned, belonged to the NDC.

It therefore came as a surprise to many who could not believe the sudden u-turn from the initial denial of ownership, thereby creating a ‘wow effect’.

It appears the party has commenced business from the new office, as it has made allocations to key and influential members of the NDC leadership, including President John Mahama, leader of the party.

Latest Pictures

Fresh pictures of the building emerged Sunday afternoon indicating the departments that have been created at the new offices and those allocated to respective officers of the party, including members of the national executive.

It subsequently went viral on social media, prompting many, including political observers, to question the sincerity of the party and government over the several denials and the source of funding for such a gargantuan project estimated at over $20 million.

Before the NDC came to power in 2009, it was facing ejection from its Kokomlemle headquarters over unpaid rents.

Two years in government and the party has put up the magnificent building, only to deny ownership of the edifice when public attention was drawn to it.

The first of the four-storey modern office building would therefore  house its IT Department, Elections Department, National Treasurer, Finance Department, Accounts  Department, Research Department, Communications Department and a Meeting Hall, while the second floor would be occupied by the NDC’s ever-powerful Propaganda Department, National Youth and Women’s Organisers Department, Regional Relations Department and a conference room.

The third floor will play host to the party’s National Chairman, General Secretary, Deputy General Secretaries, National Organiser, Deputy National Organisers, International Relations Department and meeting rooms, while the last and fourth floor would house the Leader (President) and the Deputy Leader (Vice President), when the party is in power, an Executive lounge and Executive reception.

Credibility Crisis

This has caused many to question the credibility of the leadership of the ruling National Democratic Congress which has President Mahama as its leader in this whole affair, even though National Organiser of the NDC, Yaw Boateng Gyan, wants Ghanaians to believe some rich men in the party whose names he refused to disclose constructed the building for the party after the several denials.

Almost five months ago, DAILY GUIDE reported that the NDC was on the verge of occupying the said building whose construction has and continues to be a major source of controversy.

This was after the party branded the ultra modern office complex with NDC colours and slogan.

At the time, the party’s logo had been prominently displayed with inscriptions echoing the ‘Better Ghana Agenda,’ when DAILY GUIDE visited the area one Saturday.

The branding of the imposing twin building therefore somehow put to rest the argument over the ownership of the property estimated at a whopping $20 million.

The lull, which followed the banter among a section of the media, the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the ruling party’s propaganda machinery, appears to have now given way to a fresh public scrutiny over the wealth of the NDC.

Initially, the impression was created as though the building had been put out for lease or was being rented out for the highest bidder, but our checks have established that it is actually going to be used as the head office of the ruling NDC which has Dr Kwabena Adjei, aka Wayoo Wayoo, and General Mosquito as chairman and General Secretary respectively.

Facts On File

The building, which was constructed by a Chinese company, prompted questions from individuals and groups following speculations that it was owned by the NDC, ahead of the 2012 elections.
They subsequently and deliberately put leasing notices on the gates of the building to sway public attention because of the controversy surrounding it.
Though it was not clear for how much the plush edifice was being let out, an Accra-based legal practitioner and brother-in-law of the Ahwoi brothers, Kwaku Bram-Larbi, who is also a member of the NDC and is in charge of the property, had earlier confirmed to DAILY GUIDE that the facility was being offered for lease at a price of $32 per square meter per month.
Mr Bram-Larbi was a member of the Sub-Committee on Legal Affairs of the NDC Transitional Team in 2009 when President Mills was elected and later became a board member of the Bank of Ghana.

By Charles Takyi-Boadu