Don’t wash dirty linen in public – Portuphy to NDC

The National Chairman of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Portuphy, has admonished party members to use internal structures to resolve differences, rather than resort to the media.

Following the defeat of the party in the just-ended December 7 polls, members have accused one another for the failure of the NDC to garner the necessary votes to remain in power.

Some critics have even gone to the extent of suggesting that President John Dramani Mahama should be replaced as flag bearer in order to increase the fortunes of the party in 2020.

Confusion erupted at an earlier press conference organised by the party on Monday, December 12 when towards the end of the press conference, a well-built man, a supporter of the party, stormed the conference and nearly attacked National Youth Organiser Sidii Abubakar and Deputy Communications Officer Fred Agbenyo.

According to the angry man who was captured on camera, he could not fathom why money given to executives for the 2016 campaign did not trickle down to the grassroots to intensify the party's efforts at winning more votes for the re-election of President John Mahama.

For him, the leaders were to blame for Mr Mahama’s loss to the flag bearer of the opposition NPP in the just-ended elections.

It took the intervention of some four persons to whisk away the raging man and calm him down.

But Mr Portuphy wants aggrieved members to use the right channels in addressing grievances. He also cautioned members against running to the media with every issue within the party.

“Those going on radio stations or being lured to make statements [which are uncalled for] should desist. Let’s meet at our branches – constituencies, regional and national – to resolve our problems,” he cautioned.

He stressed that the “the leadership of our party abhors going to the media and making all kinds of remarks”.