Portuphy won’t resign - NDC tells Sammy Awuku & Others

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has jumped to the defense of the party’s national chairman, Kofi Portuphy, on calls that he resigns his post as National Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), insisting he won’t move an inch from his current position.

According to the governing party, calls from various quarters, including Members of Parliament (MP), are not only misplaced, but baseless and so needs to be treated with the contempt it deserves.

The governing party in the Greater Accra Region said this when it organized its first capacity-building workshop for constituency communication officers themed; “winning election 2016 from victory unto victory; the role of the NDC constituency communication officers,” yesterday in Accra.

Speaking on the heels of the training exercise at the Kama Conference Centre, the Greater Accra Regional Communication Officer, Jerry Johnson, mentioned especially the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for shouting the loudest on the agenda to get the Coordinator sacked or resigned. One other person, who has been vocal in the call is the Managing-Editor of the Insight, Kwesi Pratt Jnr.

The NDC questioned the likes of the Youth Organizer of the NPP, Samuel Awuku, the MPs for Tema East and Afutu Constituencies, Nii Quartei Titus Glover and Afenyo Markin, where in the 1992 Constitution, Mr. Portuphy flouted for holding the two positions.

The party, cited Ken Noworsu, a one-time NPP chairman of the Volta Region, who doubled at the time as the Regional Coordinator of NADMO in the region, Sammy Crabbe, who also served as the Regional Chairman of the party in the Greater Accra Region, worked as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana International Airline (GIA), etc.

They inquired, why it was proper for these and many others in the NPP to hold more than one position in the John Kufuor administration, but same can’t be done now?

“Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones, the party warned it closest opponents;” the group tasked the NPP especially, to stop the “hypocrisy” and concentrate on pressing issues which are presently affecting the nation.

He concluded his speech by imploring on those who speak on issues of national interest to be circumspect in what they say and equip themselves with the requisite knowledge before they comment.

The National Communication Officer of the NDC, Solomon Yaw Nkansah, launched a scathing attack on the 2016 presidential candidate of the NPP, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, describing him as an epitome of corruption.

His comment was in sharp response to Nana Addo’s speech on the 50th Anniversary of the passing of Dr. JB Danquah, on Wednesday, where he attacked the John Mahama-led administration for “stealing” from the state.

According to Mr. Nkansah, his colleagues should always endeavour to set the agenda, instead of allowing their opponents to do so, and then come back to respond.

Nana Addo, he said, could not brand anybody, especially the president as corrupt when during his tenure, he supervised the missing of several diplomatic passports, when he served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

He cited the selling of a piece of land by Nana Addo to Societal Generale, who were deeply involved in the selling of the country’s drillship, which became a very topical issues last year, causing some politicians to shed tears before the Judgment Debt Commission tasked to look into the matter.

He told the trainees to be cautious and research more and abreast themselves with current trends concerning the nation, so that they could contribute their quota to their party and nation.

Opening the programme, the Deputy Minister of Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, emphasized the role of communication officers for both party and government.

He said, the work and contribution of the officers, could not be underestimated, especially so when they are the people who find themselves closer and familiar with the people in the communities, “saying it is what you do that is important.

It is the Communication Officers, who are familiar with the people, “communication is such that many people in our society feel the urge to be part of the effort to disseminate, [but] if you do not learn the rope and go through the regiment, you may unlikely fulfill the function”.

The workshop, one of the many programmes lined up for the region, was a campaign promise of Mr. Johnson Aseidu Nketia, who won his position last year.

Among the speakers were, the Deputy Communication Officer of the NDC, Kweku Boahene, and the ex-Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Ga South, Sheriff Duodo.