NDC's 2016 team: No sidelining intended - Nketiah

The campaign team announced by the National Chairman of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) was not constituted with the intention of sidelining other key party figures, General Secretary of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has said on Thursday, July 7.

“It is supposed to be a planning committee and the membership is not supposed to be what anybody is capable of doing beyond their planning capabilities,” he indicated.

The party released a list of individuals, who will form its campaign team ahead of this year’s election.

The team, chaired by Mr. Nketiah, was released on Tuesday, July 5 after consultations between President John Dramani Mahama and the National Executive Committee (NEC), a statement signed by National Chairman Dr. Kofi Portuphy, indicated.

Others, who have been appointed include: Kofi Adams, Campaign Coordinator; Samuel Adu Yeboah, Deputy Campaign Coordinator; Joyce Mogtari Bawah, Campaign Spokesperson; Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Deputy Campaign Spokesperson; Sylvia Osei, Deputy Campaign Spokesperson; Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, Member; Dan Abodakpi, Member ;Kofi Totobi Quakyi, Member; Theophilus Tetteh Chai, Member; Faustina Nelson, Member; Sherry Ayittey, Member; Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, Member; Alhaji Shamsu Kwakwa, Member, and Daniel Ohene Agyekum also a Member.

Some critics have expressed qualms about the exclusion of some key figures like the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms. Hanna Tetteh, as well as presidential staffer, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, from the team.

But Mr. Nketiah has dismissed any such motives saying: “This team will be at the apex and below there could be many other teams. This is just a coordinating team and other people will be part of the campaign team,” he stressed in an interview on Joy FM.