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National Democratic Congress (NDC) Awutu Senya West Constituency Zongo Caucus Coordinator Alhaji Issah Haruna would have to forfeit his position as a member of Premix Fuel Board after reports of his defection to the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
NDC’s Constituency Chairman Simon Duodu dropped the bombshell on news and current affairs program Ghana Dadwen on Onua FM on Wednesday, confirming that a letter is being prepared for the defected Alhaji Issah Haruna for his appointment to be terminated with immediate effect.
“We will send him letter tomorrow to leave the Premix Fuel Board which he (Alhaji Haruna) is a member,”Mr Duodu said.
“The height of his greed is unimaginable. I can’t believe that a man who our Member of Parliament Hon. Hanna Tetteh and the NDC in the constituency helped and given opportunity to become somebody, will now turn against same. That is a mark of ungrateful person,” he told host Bright Kwesi Asempa.
DEFECTION
Alhaji Issah Haruna, who hitherto was the NDC Zongo Coordinator in the Awutu Senya West Constituency of the Central Region, announced his defection to the NPP, citing issues of what he described as bad treatments including being left out of crucial constituency executive meetings and issues of untruthfulness on the part of the executives in the constituency and the Member of Parliament.
Alhaji Issah Haruna said he has been neglected by the NDC and the MP, who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs, though he individually helped to campaign for her with all his energy and resources in the run up to the 2012 elections.
Expressing his frustration about his inability to work in the constituency as the Zongo Coordinator, Alhaji Issah Haruna said: “Since my appointment, I have not had the opportunity to work.
The NDC is frustrating me, and some constituency executives even say if they don’t stop me, l may rise to become Constituency Chairman which they are kicking against.”
CONSTITUENCY CHAIRMAN’S RESPONSE
Meanwhile, Mr Duodu was called on Onua FM to respond to the allegations levelled by Alhaji Haruna, he acknowledged being privy to some bit and pieces of information about the intention of his Zongo Caucus Coordinator but has not been notified officially. Asked what he made of the reasons given by Alhaji Haruna, the chairman replied:
“It was unfortunate it happened that away but there is nothing you can do about it, we are worried but he has made up his mind. We cannot talk him out of it”. But went on to say that the party has helped Alhaji Issah Haruna greatly and it is not true that he was neglected.
Mr. Simon Duodu maintained that it was out of greed that the former Zongo Caucus Coordinator defected. Defending his reasons, the Constituency Chairman told Bright Kwesi Asempa that the MP personally paid all expenses for the wife of Alhaji Issah Haruna to go to Hajj, not to mention how the minister is looking after his (Alhaji Issah) daughter in University and on top of that making sure that Alhaji is given a position on the Premix Fuel board in the Region.
“Asempa, how could this person say he is being treated badly if his motives behind his defection are not driven by greed and selfishness?” he wondered, noting that a letter is being prepared to serve him, dismissing him from the Premix Fuel Board since he thinks he can turn round and bite the hand that is feeding him. “I can say he is greedy, that one no doubt, after all the party has done for him”.
ALHAJI ISSAH HARUNA’S RESPONSE
However when Alhaji Issah Haruna joined the programme, he reiterated that he was abandoned, saying it wasn’t because he could not pay his daughter’s fees but out of respect he had agreed when the MP opted to pay.
“How could I be financially resourcing the chairman and will not have money to pay my daughter’s tuition. “During the campaign I have to rely on one Ekow Sam the owner of Wangara Hotel to feed myself and family”.
Alhaji Haruna said he has made up his mind and nothing can change him. “I was welcomed into a family, NDC is China made but NPP is made in Japan, and they say I took money. Let me say it here and now that I will not sacrifice my religion for anything. I am a Muslim.”
