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Politics of Thursday, 16 June 2011

Source: Francis Owusu-Ansah Space FM,Sunyani

Brong-Ahafo FONKAR Cries Foul

Leading members of Friends Of Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings (FONKAR) in the

Brong–Ahafo Region, are crying foul over alleged calculated attempts by the camp of

the Get Atta Mills Elected (GAME) to making things difficult for Nana Konadu to meet

delegates ahead of the July congress in Sunyani.

The Brong-Ahafo regional Coordinator for FONKAR, Chris Dugan told Space FM's Francis

Owusu-Ansah in Sunyani that the regional minister, Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, has

instructed all District and Municipal Chief Executives, regional party executives as

well as constituency executives not to grant audience to the former first lady when

she begins her 3 day campaign tour of the region on Friday, June 17,2011.

Dugan said the regional minister, and his deputy, Eric Opoku, the NDC regional

chairman Opoku Atuahene, the National Organiser of the NDC, Yaw Gyan and Council of

state member, Cecilia Johnson met party executives at the residency on Tuesday, June

14 in the afternoon and specifically discussed how best to frustrate the campaign of

the former first lady in the region.

Dugan stressed that the action of the GAME camp is against the spirit of the

constitution of the NDC because article 6 (b) and (c) of the party’s constitutiton

enjoin all candidates to have equall access to party structure.

He alleged that the Wenchi Youth organiser of the party, Bukari Mahama, told him

(Dugan) that instruction has come from above that any one seen dealing with FONKAR

should not be tolerated at any of the party's offices.

Dugan added that based on that instruction, he was sacked from the party office in

Wenchi because he was driving a FONKAR vehicle.

Again, a FONKAR member was driven away from the popular NDC parliamant spot at the

Tamale sation in Techiman when he went to meet his own party colleagues simply

because he was driving a FONKAR vehicle.

Dugan continued that the intimadation being metted out to FONKAR activists in the

region is becoming very serious and wondered if in the event of Atta Mills winning

the primaries, could those who belonged to FONKAR be called upon to campaign for

Mills.

Reacting to the allegations, the regional minister, Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo denied the

said meeting with the DCEs and pointed out that the delegates are the ones going to

elect the party's flagbearer and not the district and municipal chief executives.

He challenged FONKAR to refocus their energies on what they want to do and stop

raising false allegations which would not help the party.

The national organiser of the NDC, Yaw Gyan also denied the claims of the FONKAR

saying he is in the Brong-Ahafo region to finalise preparation for the July

congress. He noted that the work he is currently doing for the party should have

been carried out by Kofi Adams as deputy general secretary, but he is no where near

the party head office obviously because he is criss crossing the country with the

former first lady.

Yaw Gyan pointed out that all regional chairmen of the party would meet on Friday

June 17,(the same day the former first lady begins her tour in the region) to

inspect arrangements for their respective regions at the Sunyani Coronation park,

venue for the congress.

Meanwhile, offices and shops around the Sunayni coronation park are contemplating

staying away from work till the NDC congress is over. The reasons according to shop

owners is to avoid any eventualities.