A group calling itself the Concerned Youth of NDC in the Central Region has demanded that party leaders reverse the suspension of Allotey Jacobs, the former regional chairman of the National Democratic Congress.
A statement released by the group said: “We write with heavy hearts full of displeasure, outrage and bitterness [to protest against] the behaviour and disposition of the leaders of our beloved National Democratic Congress towards the good people of the Central Region.
Insult to Fantes
“We wake up this morning to the shocking news of the suspension of another highly regarded son of the Central Region, Mr Bernard Allotey Jacobs, a true Fante NDC man whose record of toil for our party is known and appreciated by all sides of the political divide,” the group said.
The Concerned Youth of NDC claim that the party’s action spits in the face of Fantes. It is an absolute show of disrespect for Fantes in the NDC and a complete dismissal of the region’s great contribution to the party, they say.
Jacobs was suspended yesterday following his refusal to obey a party directive that its communicators should boycott the Kokrokoo morning show on Peace FM.
The party has complained about what it sees as unfair treatment by producers of the programme. Kokrokoo is the morning flagship show on the Accra-based, Twi-language radio station.
“Victimised” group
The party has since referred Jacobs to its disciplinary committee.
But the group argues that the Central Region has been a bedrock of support for the NDC and provided the party with stalwarts who have been in the forefront of Ghanaian politics.
Members of the youth group say they merely tolerate disrespect, dishonour and shame from NDC leaders who profess their love for Fantes but harbour hatred, disregard and ill-will for Fantes.
Members further questioned the silence of the NDC and its flagbearer, John Mahama, on the birth anniversary of Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur. Vice-President Amissah-Arthur died in 2018.
The youth group urged NDC members born and bred in the Central Region to rise up and call the chairman of the party, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, to order. They demand that the chairman put a stop to what they describe as the victimisation of Fantes in the NDC.
Out of favour
The Central Region was an electoral stronghold for the NDC. In 2016, however, 19 of the 23 seats in the region voted for the New Patriotic Party.
The landslide vote was an unprecedented swing away from the party.
The region has also produced many prominent NDC leaders, such as the late former president and vice-president John Evans Atta Mills and the former finance minister Kwesi Botchwey.
Fred Dzakpata
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