Politics of Wednesday, 21 December 2016

Source: 3news.com

NDC executives deny accepting blame for electoral loss in Western Region

File photo File photo

Executives of the National Democratic Congress in the Western Region have dissociated themselves from a news conference organised in their name to accept blame for the party’s big loss in the December 7 elections in the region.

Three of the executives at a news briefing Monday, accepted blame for the party’s defeat in the region which saw them lose eight parliamentary seats to the New Patriotic Party.

The three, Japheth Baidoo, organizer; Anita Anan, women’s organizer and Kirk Mensah, deputy regional communications director, also made a case for the party to persuade President John Mahama to lead the party in the 2020 elections.

But the regional executives have dissociated themselves from the said press conference and the statements made at the event, noting the three executives do not have the locus to organise the said press conference to make those statements.

Regional Chairman of the NDC, Michael Baidoo, told Connect FM the executives as a body, did not sanction the said press conference, hence the statements made by the three executives cannot constitute the decision of the Western Regional NDC.

“The regional secretary, communications officer and other executives had no knowledge about the press conference. They organised the press conference on their own and the regional executives know nothing about it,” Mr Baidoo told Connect FM in Takoradi.

He said the party will meet to consider the sanction to be taken against the three if the need be, noting that should they show remorse and apologise for their action, they would be pardon, saying “when we all meet, their conduct will determine whether to penalise them”.

Mr Baidoo said NDC is a party governed by a constitution which requires a national delegates congress to select who becomes the flagbearer of the party. He said whoever is chosen at the next congress, the regional executives will support the person into the 2020 elections.

“John Mahama did well and has been marketed well but the party has a constitution which requires that congress elect someone for the next election.

If congress elects him to be the flagbearer, he deserves it because he has done a lot,” Mr Baidoo said.