Defection Hits Tema East NDC

Hundreds of supporters and loyalists of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Tema East Constituency have finally decided to defect to the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) owing to what they described as 'merry-go-round' contracts the party executives in the area are awarding to themselves.

The irate members told DAILY GUIDE that constituency executives have neglected them and are awarding contracts to themselves, a situation they claimed had compelled them to pitch camp with the NPP.

They claimed that the Tema Mayor, Robert Kempes Ofosu-Ware, the Constituency Chairman Mustapha Darko, a certain Aheto and Kojogah are benefitting from the 'Better Ghana' sermon of the NDC.

Phillip Kwame Boah, the 2008 coordinator of the NDC at the Black Cat and Low Cost Electoral Areas at Communities 8 and 9 told DAILY GUIDE that some of them in the constituency have been calming disgruntled members for some time now, adding, 'but with the pain most of us harbour now, I can tell you that the die has been cast and I do not think these guys will be ready to rescind their decision.'

The defectors are the same guys who put their lives on the line for the NDC to ensure victory in 2008, he indicated.

'I love the party so what some of these greedy executives are doing will not make me revolt against the NDC,' he said.

'If the defectors think they can get their daily bread from the NPP should they throw their weight behind it, why should they not leave?' he queried, adding that the defectors' choice should be respected by every democratic politician and Ghanaian.

According to Boah, the hierarchy of the NDC would be deceiving themselves if they think that everything is well at the grassroots.

'If the demands of the grassroots do not become an upbeat to the hierarchy of the NDC and the government they will to live to regret in 2012 because master, monkey no go work again.'

'The executives should continue awarding themselves contracts left, right and center to the disadvantage of the 'minors'. The same thumb that enabled them to win power will remind them of what it can do when the D-day comes,' Boah cautioned.

He told DAILY GUIDE that he was better off under the NPP than presently, explaining that under the former, he was able to fend for his family better and was able to carry out a building project at his residence.

'The situation now under my own party is nothing good to write home about,' he described.

Meanwhile, the defectors, DAILY GUIDE learnt, are preparing to publicly announce their defection to the largest opposition party NPP.

Efforts to reach the party's chairman, Mustapha Darko, aka Bisalam, proved futile as he was not present at the party's head office at Community 1.

When the Mayor was contacted he denied the accusations and challenged his accusers to prove their case.

'It is not true that I have awarded contracts to myself. What is the name of the company they said I formed, let them come out with evidence if they have any,' he said.