Two Greater Accra NDC officials quit

Accra, Jan. 6, GNA - Two officials of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Greater Accra on Friday quit the party as a series of resignations rock the biggest opposition party in the wake of last week's Delegates' Congress at Koforidua.

They are Mr Nikoi Addisson, former chairman of Odododiodoo and Regional Organiser and Theophilus Addo Mills, Deputy Regional Organiser. In separate letters dated January 6 and copied to the press, Mr Addisson said he had taken the decision "due to personal reasons" while Mr Mills said he took the decision "to save my family and numerous admirers from further stress".

Several other high-ranking members of the party have quit after the Congress that saw the Rawlings faction in the NDC overcoming Obed faction in the elections for national officers.

Dr Obed Asamoah himself, who was defeated by Dr Kwabena Adjei by 1,158 votes to 208, quit the party on Thursday citing "a breakdown of democratic characteristics".

In a statement to the media, Dr Asamoah who served in various ministerial capacities during the NDC's eight-year rule and during the era of the Provisional National Defence Council, stated that one of the characteristics of a democratic organisation was the capacity to manage opposing views through dialogue, compromise and respect for established procedures.

"Within the NDC as of now dissent, particularly against certain personalities, is considered as treacherous to be dealt with by violence and hooliganism.

"It is obvious that I do not share in those methods. I therefore no longer can associate myself with an organisation employing such methods."

Dr Asamoah stressed the need to raise the level of political debate in the country from personal attacks, threats of political vendetta character assassination, lies and vulgar abuse.

Madam Frances Essiam, former National Women's Organiser and Mr Kwaku Baah, former second vice chairman, resigned immediately after the congress citing intimidation, brutalities and breakdown of democratic tendencies within the NDC.

Three Regional Executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Volta Region have also resigned from the Party They are Mr Michael Gamor, Regional Organizer, Manfred Nuku-Dei, Deputy Regional Secretary and Mr Wisdom Defeamekpor, First Deputy Regional Youth Organizer.

In their joint letter of resignation to the Volta Regional Chairman of the Party and copied to the media, the three said the Party since the 2002 Legon Congress seemed to have thrived on "intimidation and harassment" of perceived enemies of preferred candidates. Meanwhile, the national executive of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has said its attention has been drawn to a statement issued by Dr Asamoah.

The party said in the statement that Dr Asamoah had not served it with any letter but has managed to obtain a copy of the document circulating in the public domain.

It said the new executive in their first statement had extended a hand of reconciliation to any member who had been aggrieved by any incident before during and after the just ended congress. The statement also said the new executives had also condemned the alleged isolated acts of indiscipline during the congress and had initiated processes of investigations into these incidents. It said beyond these investigations Dr Kwabena Adjei personally called Dr Asamoah and sought to meet and collaborate with him in the larger interest of the party.

A five-member committee led by Alhaji Huudu Yahaya sought to meet with Mr Kwaku Baah and Dr Asamoah without success.

The statement said the national executive hade taken note of the contents of Dr Asamoah's statement and urged all members, regional executives, constituency executives, all supporters and sympathisers of the party to remain calm, resolute and steadfast and to be circumspect in their public pronouncements.

It assured the teeming supporters and members of the party that the new national executive is able and capable of dealing with any attendant issues and developments that might arise henceforth.