Coercive propaganda is dangerous for party unity - Tutu

Accra, Dec. 24, GNA - Dr Austin Asamoa-Tutu, Aspiring National Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Thursday warned against "coercive propagandists politicking" and described it as a recipe for disaster in Election 2012.

He said: "the creation of a seemingly common platform by the incumbent National Chairman, Dr Kwabena Adjei for a good number of national executive office seekers to declare their interests was sowing dangerous seed of disunity, which will hurt the party after the congress". Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, on the common platform mounted by some of the aspirants, Dr Asamoa-Tutu explained that most of the aspirants who participated in the ceremony are subordinates of the Chairman at the national office.

He caution: "the current executives must not create grounds for we against them syndrome.what happens if Dr Adjei loses the election. "Can the new Chairman count on the loyalty and cooperation of the people, who have pledged their support for him"? "Some parties walked this path in the past with serious consequences, NDC must learn from the mistake of others".

Dr Asamoa-Tutu cited events leading to the last national congress of the main opposition New Patriotic Party, where some national office aspirants were tagged as "Ex-President Kufuor's men against others, at the end it created internal disciplinary problems for the party. The NDC National Chairman aspirant called for the creation of an independent body to manage internal party campaigns; "the procedure where incumbent executives contesting for elections manage the process leading to elections amounts to being "a referee and a player at the same time". "If elected I will suggest to the National Executive Committee (NEC) to institute an independent body to oversee internal elections, both at the national and regional levels, to create a fair playing field for all contestants," Dr Asamoa-Tutu noted.

Dr Adjei, last Tuesday created a common platform for some aspirants to declare their intentions; they included Mr Yaw Boateng Gyan, the incumbent Deputy National Organiser, who is vying for the position of National Organiser, Ms Anita Jemima De-Sosoo, Deputy National Propaganda Secretary, who is seeking the position of Women's Organiser. Others were Mr Kofi Portuphy of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and Capt. Kwadjo Buta (retd), who both want to be elected as Vice Chairmen. Mr Ludwig Hlodze, a Deputy Youth Organiser, is seeking to become National Youth Organiser. Mr Emmanuel Osei and Fred Agbanyo are contesting for the two Deputy National Organiser positions; Ms Alice Boon, Women's Organiser; Margaret Chiravera, Deputy Women's Organiser and Nii D. Vanderpuje, Deputy General Secretary.

Conspicuously missing were Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, former First Lady, Squadron Leader Clend Sowu and Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, who are all vying for the Vice Chairperson position. Although Mr Johnson Aseidu Nketiah, the General Secretary, who is seeking re-election, was around, he said he would launch his campaign later.