NDC reform group splits up ?

Tema (Greater Accra) 16 Nov. 1998

A new group, concerned cadres of Ghana, has emerged from within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) reform group, which has called for a re- organisation of the party. The new faction has described members of the reform group as confusionists and castigated Mr Gossie Tanoh, a spokesman of the reform group for calling the NDC corrupt, on a JOY FM "Front Page" programme in September. The faction accused Mr Tanoh and the reform group of adopting a non- compromising stand in efforts to resolve the crisis in the party. The concerned cadres have Mr Hanifa M. M. Sannie, Tema East constituency NDC organiser, as the national organiser and their spokesman. Mr Julius Lamptey, a former sub-regional CDR organising assistant in Tema is the national chairman and Mr George Dartey, erstwhile PDC secretary is the general secretary. Mr Sannie said at a press conference in Tema last Ssturday, that his group were members of the reform group, which called for the re-organisation to strengthen the NDC. He said they were, however, disappointed at the sudden change in direction and measures by the reformists to destroy the NDC. On the radio programme, Mr Sannie said Mr Tanoh was only mandated to meet the NDC leadership and not to go on JOY FM. "If anybody calls the NDC corrupt, the person must first look at himself in the mirror before passing judgement. If you live in a glass house you don't throw stones", he said. Most people have attained their present status in society by riding on the popularity of President Jerry John Rawlings, Mr Sannie said. The concerned cadres are of the view that the problems facing cadres should be blamed on the leadership of the reform group, who were entrusted with the responsibility to seek their welfare. Mr Sannie said the issue of ex-gratia awards for cadres could have been no problem if those in the leadership of the reform group had shown some foresight by buying divested state enterprises to employ the cadres. He said his group also supports the Swedru declaration by President Rawlings endorsing vice- president Prof. John Evans Atta Mills as the NDC's flag bearer for the 2000 elections. Mr Sannie said the Swedru declaration nullified rumours being spread by opponents of the NDC that president Rawlings was either not prepared to step down or will hand over to his wife Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings. He said President Rawlings has the democratic right to choose the man of his heart, adding, the timing was good to stop all those rumours about the presidency being a "family inheritance" or pseudo-monarchy. Mr Sannie called on those who feel they are capable of contesting for the NDC's presidential ticket to come out or keep quiet since the President has not stopped anybody from contesting the position. He called on those in the reform group to return immediately to their roots in the interest of the NDC or leave the NDC alone and form their own party since it is their democratic right to do so. He also called on all cadres who have been misled to read through the lines and disassociate themselves from the reform group since they are a group of confusionists. Mr Sannie also condemned the actions and inactions of some national officers of the party, who are behind "this reform thing". He called on them to renounce the reform group or they will be exposed and purged from the party at its national congress at Sekondi. The conference was attended by about 40 people, who pledged their support for the concerned cadres views through applause.