Leading members of Friends Of Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings (FONKAR) in the
Brong–Ahafo Region, are crying foul over alleged calculated attempts by the camp of
the Get Atta Mills Elected (GAME) to making things difficult for Nana Konadu to meet
delegates ahead of the July congress in Sunyani.
The Brong-Ahafo regional Coordinator for FONKAR, Chris Dugan told Space FM's Francis
Owusu-Ansah in Sunyani that the regional minister, Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, has
instructed all District and Municipal Chief Executives, regional party executives as
well as constituency executives not to grant audience to the former first lady when
she begins her 3 day campaign tour of the region on Friday, June 17,2011.
Dugan said the regional minister, and his deputy, Eric Opoku, the NDC regional
chairman Opoku Atuahene, the National Organiser of the NDC, Yaw Gyan and Council of
state member, Cecilia Johnson met party executives at the residency on Tuesday, June
14 in the afternoon and specifically discussed how best to frustrate the campaign of
the former first lady in the region.
Dugan stressed that the action of the GAME camp is against the spirit of the
constitution of the NDC because article 6 (b) and (c) of the party’s constitutiton
enjoin all candidates to have equall access to party structure.
He alleged that the Wenchi Youth organiser of the party, Bukari Mahama, told him
(Dugan) that instruction has come from above that any one seen dealing with FONKAR
should not be tolerated at any of the party's offices.
Dugan added that based on that instruction, he was sacked from the party office in
Wenchi because he was driving a FONKAR vehicle.
Again, a FONKAR member was driven away from the popular NDC parliamant spot at the
Tamale sation in Techiman when he went to meet his own party colleagues simply
because he was driving a FONKAR vehicle.
Dugan continued that the intimadation being metted out to FONKAR activists in the
region is becoming very serious and wondered if in the event of Atta Mills winning
the primaries, could those who belonged to FONKAR be called upon to campaign for
Mills.
Reacting to the allegations, the regional minister, Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo denied the
said meeting with the DCEs and pointed out that the delegates are the ones going to
elect the party's flagbearer and not the district and municipal chief executives.
He challenged FONKAR to refocus their energies on what they want to do and stop
raising false allegations which would not help the party.
The national organiser of the NDC, Yaw Gyan also denied the claims of the FONKAR
saying he is in the Brong-Ahafo region to finalise preparation for the July
congress. He noted that the work he is currently doing for the party should have
been carried out by Kofi Adams as deputy general secretary, but he is no where near
the party head office obviously because he is criss crossing the country with the
former first lady.
Yaw Gyan pointed out that all regional chairmen of the party would meet on Friday
June 17,(the same day the former first lady begins her tour in the region) to
inspect arrangements for their respective regions at the Sunyani Coronation park,
venue for the congress.
Meanwhile, offices and shops around the Sunayni coronation park are contemplating
staying away from work till the NDC congress is over. The reasons according to shop
owners is to avoid any eventualities.
