NDC chair warns against anti-Mahama agenda 2020

The Western Regional chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Michael Aidoo, has warned other regional executives against any form of persuasion that could result in an ‘anti-John Mahama 2020 agenda’.

He maintained the party’s grassroots prefer the candidacy of former President Mahama. The 10 regional chairmen of the NDC on Thursday called on Mr. Mahama to consider leading the party into the 2020 general elections due to the overwhelming support from the grassroots of the party.

Some critics say the move by the regional chairmen could undermine a level playing field for other members of the party who have shown interest in leading the NDC.

Others, especially some key NDC members and figures have described the endorsement as unnecessary because it could derail the peace and unity efforts being championed by the party.

Former President Mahama has meanwhile said it is premature for him to make known if he has any intention to contest the 2020 presidential election.

“On the issue of considering the request of party colleagues and supporters to lead the NDC to the 2020 Elections, HE John Mahama’s position, as stated in Cape Coast, remains that it will be premature to announce his decision whether or not to contest, in view of the ongoing reorganization efforts of the Party,” a statement issued Friday said.

In the midst of that, a communiqué signed by the Western Regional Secretary, Joseph Nelson, purported to have issued by a Western Regional Consultative Forum surfaced Saturday.

Per the communiqué, the Forum was said to have expressed worry over the decision of the party’s 10 regional chairmen to endorse Mr. Mahama as the preferred candidate for the party in the 2020 general elections.

“The meeting was of the view that such untimely declarations have the potential of undermine the on-going efforts at reconciliation and urged the Council of Elders and NEC to act to instil party discipline,” the communiqué stated in parts.

But the Regional Chairman described as unfortunate, the supposed stance taken at the consultative forum, claiming his regional secretary may have signed the communiqué to that effect under compulsion.

He challenged the authenticity and the authority of the communiqué since the party does not recognize any consultative assembly. He said though he was not present at the forum, his sources have revealed participants did not discuss the content of the communiqué relating to the endorsement of John Mahama by the 10 regional chairmen.

“I have spoken to about 6 people who attended the meeting. They all claim that was not discussed for the meeting to issue a communiqué but somebody just mentioned it that they were not happy about what the regional chairmen had done,” he stated.

He thus wants the communiqué to be treated as “rubbish” for which reason it should be thrown into “dust bin”. The regional chairman accused some members of the Accra-based NDC Western caucus (advisory body to the regional executive committee) as those behind the communiqué purposely to pursue their “selfish interest”.

Accra-based NDC Western caucus, according to Mr Aidoo, though recognised due to the role they play, it is unconstitutional, hence their role cannot be interchanged with that of the regional executive committee.

He cautioned them to desist from superimposing any decision on the region stating, “so long as I remain the regional chairman nobody can dictate to the region…to think that they will dictate to us is wrong is a mistake and I will never ever allow that to happen”. He reaffirmed his stance of endorsing former president Mahama for the 2020 presidential elections.