Opinions of Wednesday, 25 January 2017

Columnist: Yeboah, Festus Obiri

We did not win power to sit in opposition

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Thousands of party supporters are really disappointed with the way and manner the President Nana Akufo -Addo is approaching government and as far as party members are concerned the sooner that changes the better.

Most observers believe that it is far too early to expect a lot but others are of the view that the mistakes of the past should not be repeated.

It is a fact that Nana Addo has abandoned the rank and file of the party and the very slow pace of replacing known NDC fanatics in National Security, Ports and Harbors and other state apparatus is a huge shock to many observers.

Majority of party supporters are silent but how long they will remain silent remains to be seen.

The party may have won elections but the NDC is still in control of affairs across government and in every state institution.

The NDC is entrenched across all levels of government and over 115 of their active members are working in flagstaff house with 3 of their die hard members some of whom insulted the President using social media accounts on Facebook working right in the President’s office!

NDC members still occupy board positions across the country and still use state infrastructure such as cars and SUVs .They are still raking in millions of dollars signing contracts and using tankers at the tema port to move oil and Diesel around the country.

It is the testament to the former National Security Coordinator the smart Baba Kamara who has placed majority of NDC fanatics in sensitive places using ghost names to avoid detection and has succeeded in convincing the so called National Security Minister Kan Dapaah who has no idea of what he is doing, to keep them instead of removing them.

Party members who sacrificed their life and resources have given way to those who went on holidays during the campaign and appeared after the election only to be rewarded.

Some members of the party who plotted with Paul Afoko , the suspended party chairman to undermine the party have been made Ministers of State and Regional Ministers !

Those who have been loyal to the party and in particular the presidential candidate since he started his bid to be President some 11 years ago have been left sitting at home .Those who worked for the campaign and put themselves on the line endorsing the President when he was the flagbearer ,the likes of Asamoah Gyamfi, Charles Taylor, Sammy Awuku, Abu Ramadan, Michael Omari Wadie, Steven Ntim, Nana Obiri boahen, Hopeson Adorye , John Boadu, Fadi Daboussi, Maame Afua Akoto ,Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, Dr Kwame Amoako Tuffour, Captain Nkrabea Effah Darteh and Kennedy Aygepong have now become political outcasts and yesterday’s men .They have become the forgotten men and women of NPP .The youth of the party have been abandoned for the same old men who in opposition spent time playing Ludo, writing articles to criticize the then flagbearer and ate at former President Mahama’s table.

The Presidency has become a no go area for party members with the likes of Abu Jinapor, Asenso Boakye, and one Saratu Atta who does not even have a party card and whose arrogance can be felt as far as Aflao, humiliating party members and dragging their feet when even booking appointments for grassroots members whose only crime is to say hello to their President.

We will not wait for the same old bad practices that created disillusionment and disappointment in previous NPP government under former President Kufuor to rear its head again.

The President did not win power by himself .He won elections on the ticket of the NPP thus he should sit up, stop being comfortable and complacent and listen to the concerns of the members.

Festus Obiri Yeboah aka FOY NPP Youth Activist