Bernard Allotey Jacobs
Bernard Allotey Jacobs, the Central Regional Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced he will not contest for the chairmanship position again in the party’s regional executives’ election.
He described the decision as personal but however indicated that he has decided to rescind his earlier decision to contest because he is very bitter.
Allotey Jacobs who has been the chairman of the party for the past eight years asserted that he was sidelined in the campaign leading to the 2016 elections.
According to him, he did not receive campaign materials and other resources from the national headquarters of the party which led to the abysmal performance of NDC in the region.
The NDC, prior to the 2016 general election, had 16 parliamentary seats in the Central Region while the then opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) had seven seats.
However, the party was able to save only four seats as against the NPP’s 19 in the 2016 elections.
The current Central Regional chairman of the NDC made the startling revelation on the ‘Kokrokoo” morning show on Peace FM, an Accra-based radio station; yesterday.
“The party’s structures in the region were sidelined prior to the 2016 elections”.
“No funds, no T-shirts were made available for campaign and I want somebody to come and tell me that I was given campaign materials or cash,” he indicated.
He pointed out that his decision not to seek re-election was personal indicating there was the need to give way to new people.
He mentioned that having been in politics for forty-eight years, there was the need for him to give others the chance while he stayed at the background and give elderly advice to newly elected executives.
Mr. Allotey Jacobs was hopeful the election of constituency executives by the NDC would bring about new and dedicated executives to strengthen it for future victory.
He thus appealed to NDC members to stay in the party to ensure victory in the 2020 general election.
Blame Amissah Arhtur
Meanwhile, Mr Allotey Jacobs has indicated that he could not be blamed for the party’s defeat in the 2016 general election in the region.
According to him, he worked with the likes of former Vice President, Paa Kwesi Amisah Arthur, and a former Deputy Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson in the region, and so he could not be solely blamed for the party’s massive loss in the region.
“They say I did not do well in the 2016 election but the then Vice President is even from this Region, the Regional Campaign Coordinator, Ato Forson, is from this Region, so why should I be blamed for not winning the elections for the NDC in the Central Region?” He quizzed.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi