NDC Organiser suspended

DAILY GUIDE has gathered that some supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Evalue-Gwira-Jomoro constituency of the Western Region, particularly the branch executives, are gearing up for a massive demonstration in the area over the suspension of the party’s constituency organiser.

The constituency organiser, Joseph Kwesikye, was suspended indefinitely by the constituency chairman and other executives for an alleged gross misconduct during a recent visit by President John Mahama to the area.

According to sources, the supporters of the party in the constituency are peeved at the suspension of the organiser and are planning to hit the streets of Axim in a massive demonstration on Thursday, May 7, 2015 to protest against the decision.

DAILY GUIDE learnt that the decision to suspend the organiser was taken at a meeting by the rest of the executive members after the visit of the president to Bamiankor in the constituency.

A copy of the suspension letter, signed by the constituency secretary, John Abugri, read: “Your misconduct during the visit of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama indicates your lack of vision and ideals of the party.

“In addition, your insubordinate behaviour created mistrust among the branch executives against the MCE and constituency executives which nearly marred the conducive relationship we are currently enjoying.

“Against this background, I am directed to write to you and inform you of your suspension from the party, which takes immediate effect from the date of receipt of the letter.”

Speaking to DAILY GUIDE in an interview, the constituency organiser confirmed receipt of the suspension letter but vowed never to return the party’s vehicle to the chairman as the letter demanded.

He explained that he had personally spent a lot in repairing the vehicle whenever it was faulty, adding that unless the money spent on the vehicle was refunded, he would not release the vehicle to the party.

On the issue of his alleged misconduct, Kwesikye stated that he got to know of the president’s visit to the constituency only two days to the president’s arrival.

“So I confronted the MCE for the area, James Baidoo, and he told me that he had already informed the party chairman. In fact, I was not happy because I, an organiser, should be informed far ahead of time so that I can properly organise the supporters to be at the venue in their numbers,” he said.

He indicated that he then inquired from the MCE how many party supporters should be present and how much money should be given each of them, to which he said 200 people and that each be given GH¢10.

The organiser told DAILY GUIDE that as he was going round in some of the villages to organise the people, the party’s vehicle developed faults and he had to use his own money to repair it.

He pointed out that later, an amount GH¢110 was given to him for the purchase of fuel for the bus that would take the supporters to and from Biamiankor.

“When I got the money I had to take away certain little expenses I made…because I knew that the MCE will bring money to pay the 200 supporters…,” he said.

He indicated that to his surprise, after the programme, the party chairman and some of the executives asked him to use the money he was given for fuel to pay the supporters, adding, “but I told them I used part to pay for certain expenses and that the rest was at home”.

He added that “…I asked some of the supporters to meet me at a joint closer to my house. I then rushed home to take the money to pay the supporters”.

According to him, the following morning the MCE sent his brother to take the rest of the money but he (organiser) refused to give the money out, insisting that he would send the money himself.

He alleged that after sending the money later, he was given a letter signed by the secretary stating that he had been suspended.