NDC to part ways with PNC

Information reaching Today indicates that the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) is considering parting ways with the People’s National Convention (PNC).

The intended move, this paper understands, follows the recent attack by the flagbearer of PNC, Dr. Edward Nasigre Mahama, on President John Dramani Mahama, when the former took his turn at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) presidential debate.

The PNC flagbearer was reported to have launched a blistering attack on President John Dramani Mahama for failing to put the country’s economy in “good shape” for almost eight years in his rule.

He blamed the President for the many economic problem’s facing the country, including unemployment, high utility tariffs, unstable power supply, and high cost of living among other pressing national issues.

On the issue of corruption, Dr. Mahama did not spare President Dramani Manama accusing him of condoning corrupt practices in his government.

The PNC leader was also much appalled about how President Dramani Mahama has managed the Ministry of Public Sector Reforms which apparently is being headed by his party’s (PNC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa South constituency in the Upper East Region, Hon Alhassan Azong.

Dr. Mahama did not understand why the public sector ministry had failed to bring the necessary reforms to the country needed.

Consequently, he blamed the president for failing to support the ministry with the needed resources to carry out its mandate.

And as if that was not enough, few days after the IEA debate, the PNC stalwart on an Accra-based Starr FM took on President Dramani Mahama again.

According to him, for President Dramani Mahama to have opted out from the IEA’s presidential debate was a disappointment.

He explained that the sitting president is supposed to account to the people of Ghana.

“I’m disappointed in the president, because he is the one to account to us. If he refuses, then Ghanaians will judge him. In 2012 he (President Dramani Mahama) was there, so why is he now staying away from the debate,” the five- time presidential candidate of the PNC averred.

“President Mahama is the one I want to debate. It is his job. He is the one I’m challenging and not Nana Addo,” Dr. Mahama added.

His vituperations, Today gathered, have incurred the wrath of the leadership of the NDC and the presidency, hence the party’s move to sever every relationship it has with the PNC.

And that was confirmed when the General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia described Dr. Mahama’s participation at the IEA’s presidential debate as a betrayal.

The NDC chief scribe was shocked that the PNC’s flagbearer appeared on the programme, saying “the NDC boycotted the IEA events to, among other things, fight for equal opportunities for smaller parties in the country.”

He made these observations last week when he spoke on Citi News in Accra.

According to the NDC general secretary, it was surprising to see the PNC flag-bearer on the IEA’s platform.

“…We were surprised to see PNC, one of the parties we were fighting for , to now accept a private arrangement to go and appear on that platform,” Mr. Asiedu Nketia who is known in political circles as ‘Mosquito’ said.

Meanwhile Today has gathered that pressure is currently being mounted on President Dramani Mahama to, as a matter of urgency, relieve Hon. Azong of his post.

According to sources at the presidency, the move is as a result of the belief that the PNC cannot be trusted.