The Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Adu Yeboah has demanded an unqualified apology from the eastern regional minister for what he described as his unsavory comment about the vice presidential nominee, Mr. Kwesi Amissah-Arthur.

Speaking on an Accra based radio station Friday, the chairman said Victor Smith’s comment about Mr. Amissah-Arthur was unwarranted, fictitious and one that could compromise party cohesion.

He added that it is important the minister issued a formal statement to withdraw his comment rather than rendering his apology through radio stations. “Victor Smith’s outburst was completely unnecessary and disparaging to supporters of the party in the region.

… Because it is a well known fact that Mr. Amissah-Arthur has been in the forefront for the NDC since the PNDC era and coming out to downgrade his intelligence and capability in such a manner could disintegrate the party and that will mean the party is losing the elections,” Mr. Adu Yeboah furiously stated.

It would be recalled that Mr. Smith on Thursday stated that the nomination of the Bank of Ghana Governor would amount to the party given away power to the NPP in December.

He argued that there were people who had made “huge sacrifices” in diverse ways for the party and capable of guaranteeing victory for the NDC.

“People have been very active politically and behind the scenes. Some of us have suffered so many inconveniences to bring this party to this far, so we need somebody who can attract votes to secure our victory.

“I don’t have a problem with him being a technocrat, but when it comes to bringing numbers to the table, I have serious reservations about him and...somebody who can complement the charisma and quality of President John Mahama,” he is reported to have said.**