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The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, was put to the test during the bloody Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election, according to Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the party’s General Secretary.
He considered Mr. Ofosu Ampofo’s declaration that the NDC will not be participating in that significant by-election to be a blatant mistake.
The 2019 by-election for Ayawaso West Wuogon was characterized by violence after National Security Operatives attacked voters, leaving several of them with broken legs and hospital admissions.
According to Mr. Ofosu Ampofo, the NDC’s decision to withdraw was based on the security experts’ recommendations, and the former president John Mahama and Asiedu Nketia were both contacted before the decision was made public.
However, Asiedu Nketia refuted doing so in an interview with Kasapa 102.5FM/Agoo TV.
“I was attending a conference in the Dominican Republic as the Vice President of Socialist International when Chairman Ofosu Ampofo called me saying that some vigilantes had fired gunshots all over the place and so he thinks the NDC should withdraw from the election. I told him don’t, it is a bad decision, and that he’ll set a bad precedent in the NDC. I told him with violence or not, the NDC will win so the party shouldn’t withdraw.”
He added: “Right after I was done with him, I received a call from ex-President Mahama telling me he’s picked up information that Ofosu Ampofo intends to announce the party’s withdrawal, it’s a bad move, tell him he shouldn’t do it. I told him I’d spoken to him (Ofosu Ampofo) not to do so. Shortly after, I saw news flashing of Ofosu Ampofo flanked by the party’s security capos announcing the NDC’s withdrawal from the election. One of the reasons he cited was that the NDC Parliamentary candidate is unable to step out of his room. So if the candidate is not able to come out, should the party withdraw from an election,” Asiedu Nketia asked.
Ofosu Ampofo’s courage was put to the test on the battlefield, and we all saw the results, Asiedu Nketia said in response to the host Bonohene Baffuor Awuah’s question about whether he thinks Ofosu Ampofo is a weak leader.
“I was in the front row challenging security guards during the election in Jaman North and Banda.
The wonderful thing about this is that when a leader steps up and tackles a dangerous scenario when troops or police officers are intimidating people, their followers feel emboldened and also learn to stand their position.
When the leadership deserts the foot soldiers, it is simple for them to be attacked, Asiedu Nketia continued.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
