The Ashanti regional NPP has since the beginning of the party’s primaries in the orphan constituencies, faced opposition from party people over the decision to impose candidates on those constituencies in the region.
It was widely alleged that the regional executives of the party refused to sell nomination forms both at the constituency and regional levels contrary to the party’s primaries guidelines issued by the General Secretary, Mr John Boadu.
This led to Ms Gifty Ndoma, the Ejura-Sekyeredumase constituency secretary and Abdul Manaf, a vice presidential staffer, picking and filing their nomination forms at the national level.
In a dramatic turn of events, Ms Ndoma was suspended on the basis of an alleged petition brought against her by her constituency chairman. She has since filed an appeal at the national secretariat and described her suspension as “illegal and unconstitutional”.
As if that was not enough, yesterday 19th August 2019, Abdul Manaf also was suspended. Before his suspension, rumours were rife on social media that he was going to be suspended. Our independent checks revealed that his suspension was occasioned by a petition brought against him by the Ashanti regional deputy youth organiser for allegedly speaking on radio against the regional executives’ decision to impose candidates.
This has caused an uproar in the rank and file of the party with the vociferous party youth group, Patriotic Youth Alliance, calling for an insurrection. In a statement which we have a copy, jointly signed by Alhajj Suleman and Thomas Boakye, the group called on the party youth to rise and demonstrate against what they call ‘wontumism’.
Below is the full statement
LET’S RESIST OPPRESSORS RULE WITH ALL OUR MIGHT. RISE UP AND DEMONSTRATE AGAINST WONTUMISM
Patriotic Youth Alliance
19 August 2019
The NPP’s constitution has been brutally maimed by the Ashanti regional executives led by Wontumi.
PYA has been raising concerns and red flags about the conduct of the party’s primaries in the orphan constituencies but nobody listened to us.
The bad press the party has seen in the last few weeks, are as a result of the reckless abandonment of the party’s constitution in the conduct of the primaries.
Not too long ago, REC claimed it had passed a resolution to bar everyone from contesting in the party’s primaries in the orphan constituencies apart from individuals preferred by REC. This decision which has no constitutional basis was flatly ignored by two gallant patriots – Abdul Manaf of Asawase and Gifty Ndoma of Ejura.
The duo were obstructed from picking nomination forms both at the constituency and regional levels in a blatant disregard for the election guidelines issued by the national party. This forced the duo to pick and file nominations at the national level.
Following that we heard of the suspension of the Ejura secretary and just yesterday, Abdul Manaf was served a similar decision. Wontumi is so bent on bending the constitution to the advantage of his apparatchiks much so that, he failed to pause and analyse the repercussions of this action he has sponsored. One doesn’t need to be a Jewish Prophet, to see through the conspiracies behind the bogus suspensions of the duo.
PYA is calling on all well-meaning party youths in Asawase to stage an insurrection. The injustice against Manaf will not end with him – every party person is at the risk of being subjected to a similar treatment if we don’t speak up today. Fight injustice wherever you find it before it gets to your doorstep.
To this end, PYA lends full support to the youth of Asawase who are planning to hit the streets. Kudos to them!
