Kofi Adams Sack Deepens Cracks

THE RISKY rift within the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been dealt a further blow by the decision of the party�s National Executive Committee (NEC) to suspend Deputy General Secretary, Kofi Adams. He is being accused of allegedly conniving with the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to subvert President Mills� presidential bid. Some sections within the NDC are unhappy about the way the party�s executive committee handled the case. Kofi Adams� membership with the NDC has been allegedly revoked. DAILY GUIDE gathered that sections within the party are aggrieved at what they see as a sentimental handling of the case that could threaten party unity. They suspect Mr. Adams is being hounded because of his loyalty to the Rawlingses. A statement from the office of the party�s founder, ex-President Jerry Rawlings on Monday clearly confirmed these suspicions; �They have lost so much moral high ground and now, one of the most truthful, forceful, logically minded personalities of integrity in the party leadership is being treated like an outcast to serve a parochial and unpatriotic interest,� it said. �As we all know, Kofi Adams is the deputy general secretary, and the second hat he is wearing is as spokesperson for the Rawlingses and like we all know, anybody who is in the Rawlings camp has become an endangered species, they try to pursue you as if you are a criminal. I have experienced it, so I am talking from what I know,� Michael Teye Nyaunu told the paper in a telephone conversation. �It is deepening the cracks because in 10 months we will be voting, we expected that we should rather be doing things that will bring us together with the possibility of retaining power. But what they have done now is dividing us.� Mr. Teye-Nyaunu is an outspoken NDC Member of Parliament who has openly stated his loyalty to the Rawlingses. He and some NDC members in the Rawlings camp fear their worst suspicion has been manifested following the harsh sanctions imposed on Kofi Adams. He and others in the party feel investigations into the controversial tape recording could have been conducted without necessarily suspending him. However, some factions suspected to be aligned to the Mills� camp are in strong support for the NEC�s decision. ��they have the right to take that decision,� Dela Edem of the NDC Communication Team said in a telephone conversation last Friday. He believes a suspension is necessary so that Mr. Adams will not have any influence on the investigation process. Mr Edem meanwhile agrees that the situation is potentially volatile and could further widen the gaping rift within the NDC: �Yes it is a serious matter to be handled but the party must have a right when certain things go wrong. Because of Kofi Adams� position, a decision must be taken.� Kofi Adams was suspended last week Thursday for allegedly conniving with NPP elements to destroy the ruling party. The NEC�s decision was based on a controversial tape recording where a voice purported to be that of Kofi Adams was heard revealing some highly privileged NDC secrets to Gabby Asare Otchere of the NPP. Both men have strongly denied ever having such a conversation.