Politics of Friday, 6 August 2010

Source: GNA

Abuakwa South NDC suspended secretary renders apology

Koforidua, Aug 6, GNA - Mr Dua Shakespeare Ofori-Atta, the suspended Secretary of the Abuakwa South Constituency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has apologized to the President, the Ghana Police Service and the leadership and members of the NDC for his offensive conduct.

Mr Ofori-Atta on Tuesday allegedly locked out officers of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) at Kyebi and dared anybody including the President and the Police to arrest him for his conduct.

He was granted bail by a Koforidua circuit court on Wednesday for forcible entry, being on a premise for unlawful purposes and using abusive language likely to breach the peace of the area.

Mr Ofori-Attah went to the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo and the regional executives of the NDC in Koforidua and apologized.

He said after reasoning through his actions, he had come to realize that it was uncalled for and that it was an affront to the constitution of the party.

Mr Ofori-Attah said his actions had caused an unpleasant stir in Ghana and portrayed the NDC as an indiscipline party and therefore called on the leadership of the party to forgive him since he would not repeat.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said the party had taken the action of indefinite suspension without prejudice to the court action to prove that the NDC would not condone any act of indiscipline by its members.

He said the conduct of Mr Ofori-Attah left much to be desired, especially for the fact that he was an executive member and should have known better.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo reminded NDC members and all those who claimed to be foot soldiers that the victory of the party was achieved through hard work of each and every party member and that did not give any group the right or license to misbehave.

The Regional Secretary of the Party, Mr Anthony Gyampo, reiterated that the conduct of Mr Ofori-Attah was an offence to the constitution of the party.

He said even though the party had accepted the apology, the indefinite suspension from the party still stood.

Mr Gyampoh said the punishment was to send a clear signal that the party would not condone any lawlessness or indiscipline on the part of any party member.

He explained that the suspension meant Mr Ofori-Attah was no longer a member of the party and therefore should be cautious of his actions and turn on a new leaf for the punishment to be reviewed.

Mr Gyampoh urged members of the party to have confidence in their leaders and channel all grievances and misunderstanding through them for redress other than staging demonstrations and using the media to tarnish the image of the party.