Top NDC Man Resigns

The suspended first vice-chairman of the Greater Accra Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Alhaji Ismail Bawa, has resigned from the party.

Alhaji Bawa who confirmed his resignation in a radio interview in Accra yesterday said, ?I will not give any further explanation. All that I want to say is what is in today?s Daily Guide. Let me also tell you that I have not received any letter from the party?.

He was suspended for six months with effect from March 20, 2006, for associating with a new political grouping called the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), formed by Dr Obed Asamoah, a former national chairman of the party who had also resigned.

?The activities of Alhaji Bawa run contrary to the dictates of the party constitution as he continues to stay away from all party activities but associates with the new political grouping, the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) of which he is a leading member?, a statement suspending him said.

It said further that the decision had been taken to maintain sanity and discipline within the ranks of party members in the region and urged all members and executives not to do business with Alhaji Bawa.

According to the Daily Guide report, Alhaji Bawa who was the NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma Central from 1993 to 1997, said the blanket amnesty by the party after the congress to all members who had breached the constitution of the party was wrong and described it as self-serving.

He also alleged that the behaviour of several senior members of the party at last December?s congress of the party merited disciplinary action but nothing had been done about it, however, such acts had been rewarded by promotion to higher positions.

He described certain comments by ex-President Rawlings about people from the northern part of the country and those from the Zongo communities holding positions in the party as unpalatable and unfortunate.

However, reacting to Alhaji Bawa?s resignation, Mr Danny Anang, the Greater Accra regional chairman of the party, said Alhaji Bawa ?was just being smart?.

He said Alhaji Bawa was at a DFP meeting at the SIC Club House at Osu last Saturday, where he openly condemned the national executive of the NDC and campaigned for the DFP.

He said the functional executive took the decision on March 20, 2006, communicated it to Alhaji Bawa on the same day and sent copies of the suspension letter to various media houses 24 hours later.

Asked why the party did not sack Alhaji Bawa, he said under the party?s procedures, after the functional executive committee had taken such a decision, the matter had to be referred to the disciplinary committee where such a decision could be taken.