Opinions of Wednesday, 18 May 2016

Columnist: Tahiru, Baba Ali

Koku Anyidoho should not create unnecessary tension in NDC

I wish to remind Mr Koku Anyidoho, and indeed all members of the National Executive Council of the NDC and government appointees that the NDC at this critical stage cannot afford to tolerate petty and unnecessary tensions within our ranks. The party has a huge political battle ahead of us come November 7, 2016, and any individual or group of persons who for some personal reasons decides to create unnecessary tensions amongst the leadership of the party and the rank and file must and should be brought to order.

The public comment made by Koku Anyodoho about Hon Hannah Tetteh on the IEA debate brouhaha is most distasteful and unfortunate at this stage. Mr Anyidoho should know very well that unnecessary public comment such as the one he made criticizing Madam Tetteh has the tendency of putting heads against one another in a peaceful and united party like the NDC.

For the records, let's consider the facts. The Honourable Hannah Tetteh has never, overtly or covertly arrogated herself the powers or the locus to speak for and on behalf of the National Executive Council of the NDC. Indeed, Madam Tetteh is one Minister of State who is very careful about her media appearances. And ever since she ceased to be the Communications Director of the John Mahama 2012 Campaign, she stopped granting interviews or holding discussions for and on behalf of the party.

The fact that Mrs Jean Mensah of the IEA has said that she held discussions with Madam Hannah Tetteh does not necessarily means that indeed such discussions took place. I can state on authority and without any fear of contradiction that such a discussion never took place between Madam Hannah Tetteh and Mrs Jean Mensah. What Mr Anyidoho should have done was simply to verify and cross check the facts from Madam Tetteh. For him to decide to go to town on the issue, and make those unnecessary and unfortunate comments, not just about Madam Hannah Tetteh, but also about "ministers who have 'grown wings' and as a result think they can flout party rules or not align themselves with party positions will be heavily censured." Comments like this smacks of a person who has personal issues with Madam Hannah Tetteh and other Ministers of State. We don't need these 'power struggle' at this stage. No Minister of State has grown any wings, and certainly no Minister is flouting any party rules.

It is interesting that Mr Anyidoho of all people should be making such remarks. Lest he forget, when he was recently at the Presidency, he was the single person who stepping on everyone's toes. It will not be appropriate to re-state some of the inappropriate comments he made.

I wish to advice and to appeal to Mr Anyidoho to desist from charting that slippery path. He sounds too confrontational and belligerent. There are better ways of handling issues like this than attacking one another. We must be united and continue to present a united front to humiliate Nana Addo and the NPP for a record fifth time since the advent of the Fourth Republic.



Baba Ali Tahiru
Ayawaso North Constituency
Maamobi
babatahiru2000@gmail.com