Shut Up! PNC Fires Ayariga

The leadership of the People’s National Convention (PNC) has asked its presidential candidate for the 2012 general elections, Hassan Ayariga, to desist from further making statements on behalf of the party.

Even before the declaration of results of the 2012 general elections by the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Ayariga conceded defeat to the candidate of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and incumbent President John Dramani Mahama.

In an interview with DAILY GUIDE yesterday, Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, chairman and leader of the party said, “The continuous press conferences- saying all kinds of things- do not really help our cause as a political party.”

He noted, “So from now on, he (Ayariga) is only a member of our executive. The 2012 election is over and we will sit and address this issue.”

He further explained: “I am the chairman and leader of the party. I am not aware of this [concession] happening before he did the press conference. We are waiting for these holidays to be over and then we call an executive meeting and address all outstanding issues.

“If there is anything to be said officially on behalf of the party, I have to say it or a person that I delegate to say it. His (referring to Ayariga’s) continued utterances which sometimes is found to be at variance with the party’s position is not the best for us.”

It would be recalled that the presidential candidate, who has been associated with what has been described as ‘designer coughs’, organized a series of press conferences during which he made a second concession statement and asked presidential candidates of other political parties, especially that of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, to also concede defeat; without the knowledge and consent of the leadership of the PNC.

This is what has compelled the leadership of the party to put a disclaimer on the matter, since according to the Chairman of PNC, “his flagbearership position ended after the 2012 general elections. He can’t hold himself up again as flagbearer of the party.”

He advised Mr. Ayariga to stop speaking for the party, insisting, “The National Executive Counsel (NEC) of the PNC is planning to hold a meeting so that everybody will know his limit of authority. I know I’m the chairman and leader of the party; I’m the chief spokesperson of the party.

“When we meet as national executives we will position everybody in their right places. We will appreciate him as our former flag-bearer for 2012 and then we will move on. So anytime he wants to do any press conference which will not affect the credibility of the party, well he can do it as an individual.”

Under the current circumstance, Alhaji Ramadan noted that “if he is making an utterance as an individual, as Hassan Ayariga, he can go ahead to do it for as long as it doesn’t hurt the pride of our party; but for him to do a statement representing the party position, he has no authority to do that.”

The Policy Analyst of the party, Atik Mohammed, concurred with the party chair, saying that the concession by Hassan Ayariga was baffling and unilateral. Speaking to myjoyonline.com, Atik added that the party had serious concerns with the figures from its strongholds and wondered why the flagbearer conceded without having their concerns addressed.