Okudzeto Speaks On NDC Banning Splinter Groups

A Deputy Minister of Information, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah has lauded the bold decision by National Executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to ban all splinter groups that emerged prior to the party�s historic Delegates Congress in Sunyani. The NDC, through its General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia aka General Mosquito announced on Thursday August 11, that there is a ban on all �auxiliary� groups within the party as it prepares towards its Parliamentary primaries. The General Secretary said the ban affected all groups including �Get Atta Mills Endorsed (GAME)�, �Friends of Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings (FONKAR)�, �Old Guards in the Ashanti Region� and �Olonka� and warned against any NDC member using any mass medium to debate on behalf of any such proscribed groups. It explained that such groups were illegal and undermined the Constitution and structures of the NDC. Mr. Okudzeto, who was contributing to discussions on Metro TV�s Good Morning Ghana programme, stated that since most of these groups mushroomed prior to the NDC congress, the Executive Committee of the party got it right in placing a ban on their activities, once the congress has ended. �If they are true members of the NDC they will abide by it�all those groups emerged as a result of the congress and for that reason after the congress we must all come together as a party to forge ahead towards the 2012 election. We need to be very resolute and committed� we cannot be discordant sending conflicting signals, and so it is a wise call�,� he said. Meanwhile, the leadership of FONKAR says they will not abide by the directive. The group says the NDC has no right to ban them. FONKAR, they claim is not an organ of the NDC, neither is it the campaign team of the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings.