Top NDC Defector Incurs Executive Anger

Alhaji B.A. Fuseini, the former Northern Regional Minister and Ghana's Ambassador to Libya in the NDC Government, who defected to the NPP last month, has drawn the anger of NDC executives in the Northern Region.

The executives have accused Alhaji Fuseini of engaging in activities "aimed at dividing the NDC and destabilising the peace and security of Dagbon using the Abudu and Andani tool which is unfortunate."

The accusations were contained in a statement issued by the party's secretariat in Tamale last weekend. The statement said: "Alhaji B.A. Fuseini has gone to certain towns of Dagbon whipping up sentiments on the current Yendi crisis in spite of the state of emergency." It claimed that Alhaji Fuseini's activities could polarise Dagbon and defeat efforts to resolve the crisis.

The statement added that Alhaji Fuseini had laid low in the party since it was defeated in the last elections and defected after he failed to forcibly acquire the party's vehicle from the Kumbungu constituency.

It said the executives had to restrain the party's youth who threatened to disorganise and stop Alhaji Fuseini's activities. It said further that the NDC does not begrudge Alhaji Fuseini for defecting since he derived maximum benefits from the party in its eight years of existence.

It said it was not in any way alarmed at "his style to always go with incumbency, but we are assuring him that we will come back in 2004."

Alhaji Fuseini denied the accusations vehemently and said: "I will be the last person to use politics to divide Dagbon.

People know the role I play in Dagbon, which is educating and uniting its people. Nobody can shut his eyes to that." He continued: "When NDC was formed I was the first to say it was both for Abudus and Andanis. I did the groundwork in Yendi to ensure that it happened.

I have never attempted to bequeath NDC to Andani Yili.We have great politicians, we must unite to put Dagbon high on the nation's agenda." But Alhaji Fuseini did not deny that he is doing some groundwork for the NPP: "True I go round to organise for the NPP.

That is what I do. If you belong to a party, you don't sit down and fold your arms." He said going back to the NPP makes him feel at home: " I feel more at home in the NPP.

I have met people I used to work with in the Danquah-Busia tradition. Nobody should be surprised that I am organising for the NPP. Politics is not religion; it is a way of life. You look at the barometer to see where you will be useful."

Alhaji Fuseini said he never joined the NDC on his on volition. It took a lot of persuasion and convincing from Colonel Abdulai Ibrahim, then the PNDC Northern Regional Secretary, and Dr. Obed Asamoah for him to relinquish his position as the Northern regional secretary of the Danquah-Busia Club.

Alhaji Fuseini refuted the allegation that he failed to forcibly acquire an NDC vehicle, and said he had never spoken to any Kumbungu constituency executive about any vehicle. He added: " As for the information that some NDC youth are threatening to disrupt the work I am doing for the NPP, I don't fear. The law is there to take its course."