Ripples Of NDC Invasion Of The Ashanti Region

415 Defect – More To Follow
Attempts by Regional Executives to persuade them to return rebuffed.

Following the invasion of the Ashanti Region by some leading members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), there is panic among the Regional Executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as the rippling effects of the invasion is beginning to manifest. Hitherto known as the World Bank of the NPP, the fortunes of the party is dwindling putting the Regional executives in a state of confusion. Regional executives who have been taken by surprise are doing every thing possible to salvage the dwindling fortunes of the party following the defection of over 415 members of the party to the National Democratic Congress despite the fact that several attempts have been rebuffed by the defectors. The members who are from the Nkawie circle one ward of the party have defected due to what they say is the failure of the party to live up to the promises the party made to them during the 2004 campaign. A source who disclosed this to ‘Ghana Palaver’ said the defected members who are led by their chairman Kwesi Abebrese decided to defect to NDC following their realization that they have been deceived for far too long by the Kufour led government. According to the source, since the party came to power in 2004 they have not seen any significant improvement in their livelihood. They have therefore decided to pitch camp with the NDC as the see the party as the only one that can bring an improvement in their lives. However the source noted that the NPP gurus are not ready to let the members go as they are using every means to get the members to return to their fold. They have employed dirty tactics such as coercion, bribery and blackmail to get the ‘rebels’ to rejoin the party. They have also employed the service of some media practitioners to persuade them to return with the explanation that their concerns will be addressed. The defectors have however refused to barge as they claim they have been deceived for far too long. According to the source, any time the defectors complain to the regional executives about the increasing unemployment in the area, the inability of the ruling government to get them employed through the National Youth Employment Programme and failure to get those who are self employed financial support to enable them sustain their source of livelihood they try to shut them up by offering the executive members money. As a result of this worrying trend, most of their businesses have collapse while others have taken to other means of surviving such as migrating to the south in such of non-existing jobs. Others have also become frustrated and have taken to alcohol and drugs. The source noted that more defections are expected to follow because foot soldiers of the party have seen through the lies of the party. the service of some media practitioners to persuade them to return with the explanation that their concerns will be addressed. The defectors have however refused to barge as they claim they have been deceived for far too long. According to the source, any time the defectors complain to the regional executives about the increasing unemployment in the area, the inability of the ruling government to get them employed through the National Youth Employment Programme and failure to get those who are self employed financial support to enable them sustain their source of livelihood they try to shut them up by offering the executive members money. As a result of this worrying trend, most of their businesses have collapse while others have taken to other means of surviving such as migrating to the south in such of non-existing jobs. Others have also become frustrated and have taken to alcohol and drugs. The source noted that more defections are expected to follow because foot soldiers of the party have seen through the lies of the party.