Tamale, Nov. 14, GNA - Mr. Albert Atutiga, former Northern Regional Chairman of the Convention People's Party (CPP), has advised members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to stop stabbing each other in the back and focus on addressing problems confronting Ghanaians. He claimed that ever since the NDC won power some members of the party especially those who did not secure political positions had resorted in acts that would ruin the efforts of the government to deliver its electoral promises.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Tamale on Friday, he alleged that some party bigwigs in the Northern Region are bent in running down Mr. Stephen Sumani Nayina, the Regional Minister on "unfounded allegations". Mr. Atutiga noted that Ghanaians voted for the NDC to address the economic woes of the country saying, "Ironically some of its own members are working to thwart efforts of development for their selfish interest". "It is unfortunate that high profile politicians within the NDC are washing their dirty linings outside just to run down Mr. Nayina who is only answerable to the President but not party members in the region," he stressed.
He said the NDC won the last December elections on a marginal basis and instead of the party to work to win the confidence of Ghanaians they were rather indulging in activities that would let the electorate think either rightly or wrongly that the party had come to amass wealth but not to address the concerns of Ghanaians.
He said when President John Evans Atta Mills nominated Mr. Nayina for the position, there were agitations against him when he had not even started work, an indication that they would not support him to succeed saying, "A bird that is flying on air cannot be accused of destroying a farm".
Mr. Atutiga asked President Mills to be careful of self-interest politicians within the party and remain his own man in order not to be swayed by "Blackmailers" who would run his government down. He said President Mills had declared to be a father to all Ghanaians and this quality must reflect in all his appointees. Mr. Atutiga advised members of the NDC who were not comfortable with certain government appointees to channel their grievances through governmental or party structures and stop acts that would derail development.
Media reports claimed that Alhaji Sumani Zakaria, Regional Chairman of the party had called for the dismissal of the regional minister, on the grounds that contracts were going to wrong hands in the region. Mr. Nayina however told the GNA that the contracts were given to people who could execute them. "I am here (Office) because of NDC to serve the people of the North irrespective of their political, ethnic and religious background. "The party chairman had his share of the few contracts that had been awarded so I don't understand why our dirty linings should be washed outside. I am answerable to some one and if I fail I will receive the whip alone", he explained. 14 Nov. 09
