National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress, Joshua Akamba has admonished flagbearer aspirants of the party to ‘stay put’ as far as holding on to discrepancies and spurring disunity through their actions is concerned.
According to him, though inevitable, the individual challenges and disparities that may exist between them because of their political ambitions, they should be clear on the position of Ghanaians; that they rally together, regardless of who may ultimately win, to ensure absolute victory for the party in the impending 2020 elections.
Speaking on JoyNews’ ‘PM Express’ show Wednesday, Mr. Akamba noted that party executives are doing their part to ensure there are equal opportunities for all aspirants and free and fair elections for the flagbearership position.
He was emphatic about the need for all sides to rally and support the ultimate winner in the upcoming elections to ensure peace reigns and the party regains power in 2020, per the very wishes of Ghanaians.
“There’s going to be a fair game, Ghanaians will not forgive us if we don’t come together to let peace reign for us to recapture power and that I can assure them that all of us, the interest of the party and the interest of each and every national officer is how do we ran a credible, decent elections for them and that after that, we should be able to come together”, he said.
He reiterated his commitment and that of all other executives to remain neutral and support whichever candidate emerges winner in the race.
“My wish is the best for all the aspirants. Some of them (party executives) have actually made the commitment that whoever wins, it’s the NDC that has won and I respect the person so much. It’s not about the individuals, it’s about the party”
“John Dramani Mahama himself wishes that after this elections, we be together, he doesn’t want anybody’s support. In fact, he himself has said severally that whoever wins, he’ll rally behind the person so I wish the other aspirants will make the same commitment” he stated.
Ofosu Ampofo and Asiedu Nketia
Touching on interference from the National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia in the electoral process, he said leadership will follow due constitutional processes to ensure objectivity.
"The party itself led by those two people that have been so accused, are trying to put measures that they will not even be a part of it. Obviously the election committee, they are not going to be seen in it, which is going to be manned by an independent body. None of the executives is going to be part. The issue of who is going to be manning the elections, obviously, Asiedu Nketia and Ofosu Ampofo, will not be seen in all these regions. We are only guiding the process but after that there are going to be men of caliber going to handle the elections”.
He also urged that all aspirants ‘forgive’ the executives if they feel they have been unfairly treated as far as issues regarding the filing fees for nomination forms are concerned. Measures are being put in place he assured, to guarantee all parties receive fair treatment.
“When the Council of Elders called, we listen to them and agree to the processes as it is now, and that tomorrow they’ll also be met and we’ll discuss it and if there’s anything that they think that we did, we’ll always say that they should forgive us but that is the rule of the game.