Johnson Asiedu Nketia
GENERAL SECRETARY of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, recently had a regrettable moment at Moshie Zongo in the Manhyia North Constituency of the Ashanti Region. The NDC chief scribe, who wields a lot of power and respect in the party, was not lucky as he was allegedly chased away from an election venue by some NDC goons, who downplayed his enviable status in the NDC.
According to reports, some NDC members in Manhyia North, which is one of the ‘troubled’ NDC constituencies in the Ashanti Region, were holding their elections to elect their executives without the consent of the party.
The controversial election was also being held without the supervision of the Electoral Commission (EC).
Mr. Asiedu Nketia, who was then in Kumasi with other top party members to resolve problems in some selected ‘troubled’ constituencies, considered the Manhyia North elections as illegal, for which reason he rushed there to stop the polls.
But unconfirmed reports indicated that the efforts of Asiedu Nketia proved futile as he was chased away by some angry-looking NDC members, who even threatened to spill human blood if anybody dared to try to stop the party elections.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Zakaria, who is aspiring for the deputy treasurer position in the Manhyia North NDC, has confirmed on Kumasi-based ‘Nhyira FM’ that indeed Asiedu Nketia recently tried to stop NDC polls at Moshie Zongo but to no avail.
But sounding as though he was hiding some truth for obvious reasons, he stated that “Asiedu Nketia tried to enter the election venue at Moshie Zongo so that the illegal elections could be stopped but he was not allowed to enter”.
Alhaji Zakaria said one party member tried to protest against the constituency elections and he regretted doing so as he was mercilessly beaten by some party goons, who would not listen to anyone.
The NDC Deputy Treasurer hopeful at Manhyia North, disclosed again that another party member, who vehemently protested against the elections, also had his motorbike totally destroyed by the angry-looking goons.
Alhaji Zakaria said, later on, Asiedu Nketia realized that there was no way that the ‘machomen’ would allow him to enter the election venue so he left, adding that the NDC general secretary cancelled the polls consequently.
In a related development, the NDC leadership at the national level is expected to come out with their decision concerning the ‘troubled’ constituencies in the Ashanti Region, where the party is yet to hold its constituency polls.
Ashanti Regional Organizer of the NDC, Alhaji Sanni, said on ‘Nhyira FM’ that Asiedu Nketia had taken a decision on five ‘troubled’ constituencies already, and the decision, which is in written form, would be made public on Monday.
He mentioned some of the troubled-NDC constituencies in the Ashanti Region as Manhyia North, Oforikrom, Bekwai and Affigya Kwabre South.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi