Yilo Seat Is Not For Sale: Yilo NDC Youth Descend On Regional Executives

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Some aggrieved party youth of the National Democratic Congress in the Yilo Krobo constituency of the eastern region have descended on the regional executives of the party over what they call their support for an illegality.

The youth who accuse the executives of pushing the parliamentary agenda of Albert Nyarkotey despite his ineligibility to contest the polls say the party should forget about the parliamentary primaries in the constituency if Albert Nyarkotey is cleared to contest in the race despite the agitations of the youth.

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An agitated spokesperson of the youth and deputy branch youth organizer of the NDC at Agavenya in Somanya accused regional executives of the party of accepting money from the embattled parliamentary aspirant to push his parliamentary bid despite being disqualified from the primaries during the vetting of aspirants in Koforidua in August.

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Alex Tetteh who absolved the eastern regional chairman of the NDC, Mr. John Amankrah of blame however accused the rest of the regional executives of being compromised by Albert Nyarkotey, adding that commitment to the cause of the NDC, other than monetary considerations, should be the yardstick towards selecting parliamentary representatives of the party.

He accused Mr. Nyarkotey of attempting to reap where he had not sown as he failed to contribute towards the development of the party in anyway, threatening that his resolve to use money to push his way through would be fiercely resisted by the youth.

“Nyarkotey lives in Adenta but despite his [Nyarkotey’s] proximity to Somanya, he never participated in activities of the party. So who should do the dirty work for him to reap the fruits? Should everybody fail to serve the party but use the influence of money to gain political power?” quizzed Alex who lamented that people like them who have worked hard to serve the party over the years should not be disregarded for money-splashing opportunists. Background

One Mr. Eku Stephen, a branch Communication Officer of the party issued a petition against Mr. Albert Nyakotey’s filing, challenging his ineligibility to contest the primaries, arguing among others that the aspirant had not been an active member of the party in the constituency.

The petition was subsequently referred to the Constituency Election Committee (CEC) based upon which Mr. Nyakotey’s vetting was suspended when he appeared before the vetting committee in Koforidua, to pave way for hearing of the petition.

The issue was however referred to the party’s national executives where, Mr. Nyarkotey, after appearing before the national executives where the issue was referred, was disqualified from the primaries.

The aspirant later filed an appeal against his disqualification to the Functional Executive Committee (FEC) for redress which verdict is still pending.

Some branch executives of the party have also accused national chairman of the NDC, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo of scheming to unfairly disqualify Albert Nyarkotey from the race to pave way for Michael Ologo, another candidate they believe is a favourite of the national chairman, an allegation summarily dismissed by the constituency chairman of the party, Narh Agbo.

The other candidate in the race is former Municipal Chief Executive for Yilo Krobo, Andrews Soda.

The youth insist that the National Democratic Congress which purports to strive on internal rules and regulations must lead by its tenets by disqualifying Albert Nyarkotey who does not meet any of the requirements of the party in contesting the parliamentary primaries.

Vivid dissent by the youth to developments in the party concerning the parliamentary primaries were evident at the party’s constituency office at Somanya. Placards mounted at vantage points in front of the party office read: “Stop dictating for us, regional executives; we don’t need Albert in Yilo Krobo; no contribution no chop, Albert must adhere to our party rules”, etc.

Despite the Conflict Resolution Committee of the party yet to conclude its findings on the appeal filed by Mr. Nyarkotey against his disqualification from Saturday’s primaries, the youth have warned the national leadership of the party against clearing the embattled aspirant to contest or they will boycott and disrupt the process.

Though all is set for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Primaries slated for Saturday, August 24, five constituencies including Yilo are currently dealing with issues that are in the process of being resolved, hence, their Parliamentary Primaries would not come-off on Saturday.

The constituencies are Yilo Krobo in the Eastern Region, Mpohor in the Western Region, Ellembelle in the Western Region, Asawase in the Ashanti Region, as well as Fanteakwa North in the Eastern Region.

General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia said the issues in the five constituencies where being resolved by the NDC’s Conflict Resolution Committee and since they had not delivered their verdict, it would be prejudicial for the party to proceed with elections in those constituencies.

By: Michael Oberteye