JJ goes wild at NDC meeting

The ceremonial Founder of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) went wild at the failed meeting of key party functionaries a little over a week ago and fired at some party functionaries for their perceived transgressions.

At the end of his tirade, Press Secretary to the flagbearer of the party, Mr. Seth Ofori-Ohene and Director of Communications at the campaign office, Mr. Rojo Mettle Nunoo, were caught in his verbal bombs.

Hon Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, MP for Fanteakwa, escaped being listed as a ?sinner? over how he ?Mceed? the Mafi-Mepe event where a podium caved in at the weight of Rawlings and others.

Insiders at the meeting, which was called to re-draw the national coordinating campaign team of the party, said Rawlings was however not happy over praises that Ofosu-Ampofo, who was not present at the event, gave to one of the potential running mates of the NDC at the recent launch of the party?s manifesto in Kumasi.

Ofosu-Ampofo is reported to have given a grand ovation to Mr. Baba Kamara, one of the front liners for the NDC running mate slots and a key progeny of Dr Obed Yao Asamaoh, the party?s Chairman.

He was therefore accused of having deliberately created an impression in the minds of many party followers that Kamara was the chosen candidate for the running mate slot. Incidentally, Kamara entered the podium just before Professor Mills and went to take his seat directly behind Rawlings at the Kumasi event, sources say.

But while his handling of the Mepe event and probably his absence was enough to save him, Rojo and Seth had to confront each other over who was responsible for the seating arrangement in Kumasi.

The two were caught sweating it out to explain their roles in that event as well as other issues related to the party, sources at the meeting told this paper.

The meeting itself was boycotted by some leading members of the party, with key members of the executive firing a letter indicating why they could not attend.

The Chairman of the party, Dr Obed Asamoah, also fired a no-holds barred letter on the event to Mr. Harry Sawyer, Chairman of the Council of Elders, in which he accused him of allowing undemocratic tendencies to creep back into the party.

?I wish to state that I cannot acquiesce in the resurgence of the undemocratic habits of the past that have caused us so much embarrassment and pain?, he stated.

He pointed out that judging by the past experience of the party, there was the risk that the overbearing posture of the Committee meetings would create a perception that others, and not the flagbearer, were calling the shots, allowing spin doctors of the NPP to have a field day.