After the troubled waters of the perceived Mills-Ahwoi and Rawlings’ factions have somewhat receded, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) is bracing up for another internal showdown.
An investigation picked up by this paper indicates that the party headquarters at Kokomlemle in Accra will soon outdoor an uncompromising call for Chief of Staff, Henry Martey Newman to be fired from office. Insiders told this reporter this is an option available should planned closed-door discussions with the Castle fail.
This is one of the post-Atiwa fall-outs after the NPP, though dropping some 6,000 votes retained that seat.
Sources say that the Chief of Staff has not been able to improve government-party relations currently described to be poor.
Giving details on the Atiwa nexus, sources say that the Chief of Staff was unable to get the top shots at the Castle to descend into the constituency for a vigorous campaign before the by-election though there was a communication to that effect. Of particular concern is the case that when Nana Akufo-Addo, flagbearer and leader of the NPP was in the area to interact with the Atiwa chiefs and people, the Castle big shots were nowhere to be found.
Prior to the Atiwa connection, DAYBREAK gathered that some party gurus have expressed anger at the cold reception they have been receiving anytime they visit the Castle. One of such cases is that of Mr. Asiedu Nketia, who Mr Martey Newman reportedly told that he did not know when the former visited the Castle.
Some party big shots in an interview described Mr Martey Newman as somebody who is not a blue party man and does not understand the dynamics of NDC politics and party landmines.
Sources at the party headquarters told this reporter that the party headquarters may be prevailed upon not to stage any public protest in the matter of the Chief of Staff as this has serious ramifications for party unity.