Faustina Nelson Breaks Silence

Madam Faustina Nelson, a leading member of the NDC, who, since her party’s defeat in the 2000 general election has not been heard of has finally spoken.

And it was not easy for ‘The Evening News’ to get the National Chairperson of the Veranda Boys and Girls Club (VBGC) to break her silence. In an interview, which touched on a wide variety of issues, relating particularly to the NDC, Madam Nelson, took a swipe at members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NDC for their double standards. She said NEC members had broken and flouted their own rules with regard to the campaign for the party’s presidential ticket, which enjoin them not to take sides.

Madam Nelson, who until recently was a national vice-chairperson of the NDC, said most members of NEC are supporting and even campaigning discreetly or openly for either Dr Kwesi Botchwey or Professor John Atta Mills. She said even though the NDC had made it clear that it would not tolerate splinter groups within the party, more new ones are emerging. She said, “I see them as organised groups formed purposely to organise orchestrated news conferences against perceived opponents. I also look at it in mathematical terms as elimination by substitution”. Madam Nelson described as blatant lies allegations that vehicles of the Veranda Boys and Girls Club had been sprayed white and were being used by Dr Botchwey’s campaign team.

She said she could smell a rat and had foreseen yet another series of planned smear campaigns ahead of yet another NDC congress.

She said it was a clear sign of frustration and desperation and that she was ready to “face boot for boot those faceless and spineless people behind” that campaign. She said, “I only pity the ignorant and innocent young men who are usually grouped and lined up and used to pursue such vicious agenda which in anyway is uncalled for”. According to Madam Nelson, past events had proved that such negative propaganda or smear campaign usually backfired against the orchestrators and rather favoured the vilified. “As a matter of fact, such campaigns, rather draw more public or delegates sympathy for the vilified as happened during the last NDC congress in April, this year.

Madam Nelson recalled “The impact of that smear campaign which was aimed at destroying certain key members contesting for positions rather won for them more sympathy and this factor, I am sure, positively and favourably contributed a greater percentage of votes for the eventual winners’. She urged both Dr Botchwey and Prof Mills to prevail on their supporters to do clean campaign “so that whoever wins, we can all comfortably explain that after the elections, the NDC set up a task force headed by Mr William Aggrey to retrieve all party vehicles including those of the VBGC. Mr Aggrey later confirmed this in a telephone conservation.

He said after the 10 vehicles had been retrieved, the NEC sold those of Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Western and Greater Accra Regions. That of the Central Region is being used by the current National Women’s Organiser, Frances Esiam whilst those allocated to the Northern, Upper East, Volta and Upper West are in the regional poll for party activities. That of the East Region was involved in an accident and is currently out of order. On the fate of the VBGC of which she is the national chairperson, Madam Nelson said it is a registered autonomous association, which is affiliated to the NDC.

Madam Faustina Nelson, a leading member of the NDC, who, since her party’s defeat in the 2000 general election has not been heard of has finally spoken.

And it was not easy for ‘The Evening News’ to get the National Chairperson of the Veranda Boys and Girls Club (VBGC) to break her silence. In an interview, which touched on a wide variety of issues, relating particularly to the NDC, Madam Nelson, took a swipe at members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NDC for their double standards. She said NEC members had broken and flouted their own rules with regard to the campaign for the party’s presidential ticket, which enjoin them not to take sides.

Madam Nelson, who until recently was a national vice-chairperson of the NDC, said most members of NEC are supporting and even campaigning discreetly or openly for either Dr Kwesi Botchwey or Professor John Atta Mills. She said even though the NDC had made it clear that it would not tolerate splinter groups within the party, more new ones are emerging. She said, “I see them as organised groups formed purposely to organise orchestrated news conferences against perceived opponents. I also look at it in mathematical terms as elimination by substitution”. Madam Nelson described as blatant lies allegations that vehicles of the Veranda Boys and Girls Club had been sprayed white and were being used by Dr Botchwey’s campaign team.

She said she could smell a rat and had foreseen yet another series of planned smear campaigns ahead of yet another NDC congress.

She said it was a clear sign of frustration and desperation and that she was ready to “face boot for boot those faceless and spineless people behind” that campaign. She said, “I only pity the ignorant and innocent young men who are usually grouped and lined up and used to pursue such vicious agenda which in anyway is uncalled for”. According to Madam Nelson, past events had proved that such negative propaganda or smear campaign usually backfired against the orchestrators and rather favoured the vilified. “As a matter of fact, such campaigns, rather draw more public or delegates sympathy for the vilified as happened during the last NDC congress in April, this year.

Madam Nelson recalled “The impact of that smear campaign which was aimed at destroying certain key members contesting for positions rather won for them more sympathy and this factor, I am sure, positively and favourably contributed a greater percentage of votes for the eventual winners’. She urged both Dr Botchwey and Prof Mills to prevail on their supporters to do clean campaign “so that whoever wins, we can all comfortably explain that after the elections, the NDC set up a task force headed by Mr William Aggrey to retrieve all party vehicles including those of the VBGC. Mr Aggrey later confirmed this in a telephone conservation.

He said after the 10 vehicles had been retrieved, the NEC sold those of Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Western and Greater Accra Regions. That of the Central Region is being used by the current National Women’s Organiser, Frances Esiam whilst those allocated to the Northern, Upper East, Volta and Upper West are in the regional poll for party activities. That of the East Region was involved in an accident and is currently out of order. On the fate of the VBGC of which she is the national chairperson, Madam Nelson said it is a registered autonomous association, which is affiliated to the NDC.