The 2024 Presidential candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has dropped the former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu as well as former Minority Chief Whip, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka from his campaign team ahead of the upcoming general elections.
This development has led many people to believe that rumours about John Mahama’s disaffection for the two frontliners of the NDC are not mere speculations, but a reality.
The announcement was made in a press statement issued by Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, the NDC General Secretary, following a meeting of the party’s Functional Executive Committee on Tuesday, June 18, 2024.
The newly constituted National Campaign Team will be spearheaded by Fifi Fiavi Kwetey as the Campaign Coordinator, Joseph Yammin will serve as the Deputy Campaign Coordinator in charge of regional campaigns, with Richard Quashigah, former MP for Keta overseeing parliamentary campaigns.
Joseph Yammin (National Organizer)- serves as the Deputy Campaign Coordinator in charge of regional campaigns, Richard Quashigah is the deputy Campaign Coordinator in charge of parliamentary campaigns, Chief Hamilton Nixon Biney is the deputy Campaign Coordinator in charge of Special Operations, Sammy Gyamfi- National Communications Officer, George Opare Addo- National Youth Organizer.
The others are Dr. Hanna Louisa Bisiw-Kotei- National Women’s Organizer, Alhaji Cole Younger- National Zongo Caucus Coordinator, Professor Joshua Alabi- Head of the flagbearer’s campaign, Joyce Bawa Mogtari- spokesperson, flagbearer’s campaign, Beatrice Annan-deputy spokesperson, flagbearer’s campaign, Alex Segbefia- head of running mate’s campaign, James Agyenim Boateng- spokesperson, Rlrunning mate’s campaign.
The following personalities complete the list: Eric Adjei- deputy spokesperson, of the running mate’s campaign, Richard Anamoo- representative of the NDC’s professionals forum, Shine Gaveh- Representative of the Cadres Front, Dr. Nashiru Issahaku, former BoG Governor, Obuobia Darko-Opoku and Mary Ewusi.
The National Campaign Team shall work under the guidance of a Campaign Steering Committee that comprises: Johnson Asiedu Nketiah- Chairman, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, Dr. Ato Forson, Rt. Hon. Doe Adjaho, Alhaji Hudu Yahaya, Kofi Totobi Quakyi, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, Dr. Kwabena Duffour, Betty Mould Iddrisu, Julius Debrah, Marrietta Brew, Dr. Valerie Sawyer, Sam Pee Yalley and Alhaji Alhassan Ligbi.
The two close allies were removed from their leadership positions in Parliament in a degrading manner that was described by political watchers as a ‘coup d’état.’
According to sources, Haruna Iddrisu and Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka were initially part of the campaign team but were later dropped following strong protestations by some influential persons close to the NDC flagbearer, as they were seen as “haters”, who would not work in the interest of the NDC flagbearer and therefore must not be part of his campaign team.
The source said the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale South, Haruna Iddirus will be in charge of John Mahama’s campaign in the Northern Sector but was dropped last minute after being tagged as Anti-Mahama.
Interestingly, the current Minority leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who replaced Haruna Iddrisu has been given a special place in the Campaign Steering Committee that will supervise all the sub-committees of the team.
Haruna – Anti Mahama Tag
Haruna Iddirisu was removed because he refused to support the current National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Johnson Asiedu Nketiah during the party’s recent congress to elect national executives, as well as friction between him and former President John Dramani Mahama.
Then the Minority leader Haruna Iddrisu and Asawase MP Mubarak Muntaka had their fair share of criticisms from party members especially when they approved Hawa Koomson whom the party members wanted rejected for her violent tendencies during the EC’s voter registration exercise at Kasoa.
The development led to the Council of Elders of the NDC summoning the leadership of its caucus in Parliament on Tuesday, March 16, 2021.
In a statement, Chairman of the Council of Elders Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu noted that the Council and the caucus leadership collectively agreed that the incident of March 3, 2021, where some nominees for ministerial positions were approved was “regrettable and unfortunate, and runs contrary to the principles and values of the party.”
NDC Cracks
However, the Opposition NDC last year in a dramatic move sacked Haruna Iddrisu as the Minority Leader and replaced with Cassiel Ato Forson, Ranking Member for Finance.
His Minority Chief Whip, Mohammed Muntaka also was sacked with Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah replacing him, as Kwame Agbodza is now the Minority Whip with Ahmed Ibrahim as the First Minority Whip and Comfort Doyoe Ghansah maintaining her position as Second Minority Whip.
The removal of the Minority leadership brought serious confusion within the party as some of the newly elected executives, particularly the National Chairman, Aseidu Nketiah said there was a plan to get new leadership for the party’s representatives in the law-making chamber but they had to hold on when the party decided to contest the 2020 election results in the Supreme Court.
Asediu Nketia Justification
National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah said that he kicked out former Minority frontbenchers in Parliament for fighting Speaker Alban S.K. Bagbin.
He said Haruna Iddrisu and Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, Minority Leader and Minority Chief Whip respectively, were having issues with Speaker Bagbin making it difficult to cooperate with the NDC.
The former General Secretary gave an example of the difficulties the NDC encountered in electing their member to be Speaker of the House, adding that his topmost priority in parliament is to see the NDC cooperating with the speaker against the government which the previous Haruna Iddrisu led NDC leaders failed to achieve.
“My priority in Parliament is to see our parliamentary caucus working together and also cooperating with the Speaker of Parliament.“Why did we struggle to get an NDC person, elected, as the speaker of Parliament?,” Asiedu Nketiah queries.
The NDC National Chairman was addressing party members in the United Kingdom where he joined former President John Dramani Mahama last in January 2023, at Chatham House in London on the topic “Africa’s Strategic Priorities and Global Role.”
Following the removal of Haruna and Muntaka, some 60 NDC MPs signed a petition against the decision.
They include; Alhassan Suhuyini, MP for Tamale North; Dr. Kwabena Donkor, MP for Pru East; Dr. Dominic Ayine, MP for Bolgatanga East; Sam George, MP for Ningo-Prampram; Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini, MP for Sagnarigu; Samson Ahi, MP for Bodi and Collins Dauda, MP for Asutifi South.
Following the removal of Haruna Iddirisu, there was serious tension in the party, where the party’s national chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, narrowly escaped assault during a party meeting held in Tamale to patch up differences among the regional officers, shedding light on the deep-rooted divisions and internal turmoil plaguing the NDC.
The incident unfolded during a stakeholders’ engagement aimed at promoting peace and unity ahead of the 2024 general election. However, the meeting took an unexpected turn as tensions escalated, culminating in a series of dramatic twists.
Supporters from both factions engaged in a frantic chase, verbally attacked prominent figures, and ultimately engaged in a physical altercation.
History
History dates back to when the late Prof John Evans Atta-Mills was President, and the party was considering a possible ticket after him, and Haruna’s name was mentioned as a possible running mate to Kwesi Ahwoi, instead of Mahama.
Prof Mills was called to glory and Mahama took over because he was then the Vice President.
When Mahama won the 2012 elections, his first list of appointments did not include Haruna Iddrisu, giving weight to rumors that there was some confusion between the two.
Haruna had been named in the first list of Prof Mills’ ministerial appointments.
He was named the Minister for Communications, even as young as he was in 2009.
When Mahama took over in 2013, he removed Haruna from the Communications Ministry.
Following Haruna’s removal and not being appointed again, chaos broke out in Tamale, and Mahama was compelled to appoint Haruna as Trade Minister andvlater shipped to Labour and Employment Ministry.
Mahama Speaks
Concerning that, John Dramani Mahama, visited the former Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, at his residence in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital, for a closed-door meeting.
-BY Daniel Bampoe