Why Tony Aidoo was dropped

Accra (–The Evening News.) 04 June 2002 - The National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has stated that it was in the larger interest of the party that Mr Kwamena Ahwoi should be the director of Research instead of Dr Tony Aidoo. This, he said, was also the thinking of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party when it met recently.

He explained that during the meeting which elected the various directors of research, communications, international relations and administration (technical), the majority of those present favoured Mr Ahwoi although the name of Dr Aidoo came up for discussion. "Opinions were sought at the meeting and the majority of the opinions went in favour of Mr Ahwoi," he disclosed to this reporter.

The national organiser however, denied that Dr Aidoo, a former director of research and international relations, was axed from his position by NEC. According to him, the term of office of the former director had rather expired.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo noted that Dr Aidoo's term expired automatically after the new amendments to the party constitution was adopted at the just ended national congress came into being. He added that the new amendment provided for the office of research and international relations to be separated. The national organiser said with these developments, the position of director of research became vacant and was applied for by Mr Ahwoi, former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo, who is also a Member of Parliament for Fanteakwa said although some methods were used in electing the director, there was "no strict voting and no ballot papers were counted." He stated that the appointments are basically, in line with the national chairman's acceptance speech at the congress when he promised among other things to tap the rich experience of Alhaji Mahama and others.

He said it is also ensure cohesion and bring all those in the frontline to play very meaningful roles in the roles in the re-organisation of the party so as to move the NDC forward. According to the national orgainiser, the national executives would soon undertake a nationwide tour of all constituencies to assess the strength of the party and interact with the rank and file.