Favouritism in NDC caused our defeat – Joseph Yammin

Former deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Joseph Yammin, has blamed some national executives of the National Democratic Congress for the party’s defeat in the just ended general elections on December 7.

Mr Yammin claims some bigwigs in the NDC at the national level used their positions to influence the fielding of some parliamentary candidates who have lost touch on the grounds.

“If individual interest from the headquarters supercedes the interest of the party this is what you get” he stated on a Kumasi-based radio station Monday morning during a postmortem analysis of the elections.

Final results: 2016 presidential election [without 4 constituencies] Ghana’s Electoral Commission on Friday night declared Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party winner of the presidential election two days after close of polls 5:00pm Wednesday.

Final results: 2016 presidential election [without 4 constituencies]

Ivor Greenstreet [CPP] – 25,395 (0.24%)

Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings (NDP) – 16, 878 (0.16%)

John Dramani Mahama (NDC) – 4, 713, 277 (44.40%)

Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom (NDP) – 105, 682 (1.00%)

Nana Akufo-Addo (NPP) – 5, 716, 026 (53.85%)

Dr Edward Mahama (PNC) – 22, 214 (0.21%)

Jacob Osei Yeboah (Independent) – 15, 889 (0.15%)

He argued there were some competent candidates who would have helped to give the party a victory but some powers that be ensured their political career never materialised.

“NDC problems started from the selection of parliamentary candidates, that was the biggest error and some of us told them. …you go to New Edubiase for instance the incumbent MP had lost touch with the people of Edubiase but the party kept him.”

Mr Yammin retorted. He said Abdul Salam should have been given the support in 2015 when the primaries were held, saying “If this boy Abdul Salam had been given the nod he would have won the New Edubiase seat”.

He also accused former Ashanti Regional Minister, Peter Anaafi Mensah, of using his arsenals to bring down the NDC MP for Ahafo Ano North constituency.

“If he will use his car to campaign against his own party member bow we have lost the seat and the presidential as well…” Yamin bemoaned.

He said the party will reflect on the loss and build a formidable force for the next elections.