Collect GHC5m cash for congress from Mahama – Aspirant fires Ofosu Ampofo

Elipklim Agbemava, a flagbearer hopeful of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the party’s National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo of scheming in an attempt to make former president John Mahama the flagbearer of the party.

According to him, the whooping GHc20,000 and GHc 400,000 costs respectively for nomination forms and filing fees put out by the party’s Council of Elders is a deliberate move to have the position sold to the highest bidder.

Speaking on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa Fm, Mr. Agbemava referred to some public utterances of the chairman and other newly elected executives as evidence to the fact that the proposed filing fee is only so, to skew the position to the former president.

“We have stated in our petition that all these things are being done for one person to come. I don’t need to go far, the statements are there. National women organizer says she’s for JM, national chairman said he is the best man to come so it wont be a bad idea. What is the meaning of that? You say all this thing and you want me to now pay? you have reached a decision already so go, go and collect the 5 million you need from him and let go because you know he can deliver and then organize the congress for him, for him to fund you so that you will know that you have a party”.

He however, questioned “You are the Chairman, today you are the leader of the NDC and you are not able to raise GHC5 million cedi for a congress. What right do you have to tell me that I am incapable of leading the party because I’m not able to raise GHC400,000”.

He added: “So if we have sat down and we have destroyed our structures and we have not managed things well, instead of stepping aside for somebody to come and make things better we are rather blaming the aspirants. Aspirants who want to realize their ambition to help their nation, we are rather trying to penalize them for someone’s mismanagement”.

He has proposed that, the party in its quest to raise money for its upcoming congress should not only look at raising money through the “high” filing fees, but rather broaden the scope by involving every member of the party.

“If the party needs money and they want us to raise money, they should involve all members of the party so that everyone will contribute towards the upcoming congress. The congress should not be the concern of only aspirants, the entire party should be involved”.