The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) appears to be in disarray following the massive humiliating defeat in the 2016 general election as members, including a Deputy General Secretary of the party, Koku Anyidoho, attacked Joyce Bawa Mogtari, spokeswoman for former President John Mahama.
Joyce Bawa Mogtari, former Deputy Minister for Transport, had sought to suggest that the NDC wouldn’t be bothered, should the New Patriotic Party (NPP) continue to rule Ghana for the next eight years – a statement which has apparently angered the rank and file of the party.
Joyce, speaking on Starr Chat, last Wednesday, Joyce disclosed that for the NPP to rule from 2016 to 2024 is normal and shows the beauty of Ghana’s democracy.
“Well, I don’t really mind if NPP rules for eight years; it’s democracy and really not an issue. When they lost, you can imagine how they felt when we moved into the Flagstaff House and I know the feeling… We’ve all been there and that is the beauty of our democracy,” the former president’s spokesperson stated.
Supporters of the NDC however, were demanding clarification on Bawa’s stance indicating that the party had still not risen up from the humiliating defeat it suffered in the hands of the NPP in the 2016 elections.
Countering the statement made by Joyce Bawa Mogtari, Koku Anyidoho, deputy general secretary of the NDC, posits that the former isn’t the official mouthpiece of the party and entreated the general public to take her comment with a pinch of salt.
“Our own investigations show that we are ready to come back to power in 2020…she has just shared her thoughts which don’t reflect the views of the NDC. She has no authority to speak for the NDC…Our National Chairman is our leader and the secretariat is still working,” Koku said.
Mr. Anyidoho advised Mogtari to stick to her job of speaking for ex-president Mahama and not to assume a new role of speaking for the party.
“She can speak for the former president but shouldn’t speak for the NDC. The former president only announced she speaks for him but the party hasn’t said so. She only expressed her views and not that of the party,” he said.
The deputy communications officer of the NDC, Fred Abgenyo, said also on Asempa fm that the party’s headquarters was overwhelmed with phone calls and complaints on Thursday after Bawa’s threatening views.
Mr Agbenyo expressed, “As far as the party leadership is concerned, we are well prepared and that, by God’s grace, by 2020 we’ll come back to power and that is what we are focused on. I cannot even tell whether what the spokesperson of the former president said was the position of former President Mahama or her own views that she expressed.”
Motgari’s U-Turn
However, Madam Joyce Bawa Mogtari after being blasted by some of her own party officials, claimed she was misinterpreted over the statement attributed to her.
According to Bawa, she is not the mouthpiece of the opposition NDC, for which reason she could not claim that the party is not ready for the 2020 elections.
In a statement issued to clarify the matter, she said, “I have read with some disappointment, news reports attributed to some officials of our party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in which I am accused of stating among others that the NDC is not ready for the 2020 national elections.
“While no such statement was uttered by me on the Starr Chat, a personality chat show on March 08, 2017, let me also state that I have never stated or ever claimed that I am the spokesperson for the NDC or that I speak for the party.”
“I remain a proud member of the NDC. My presence on the Starr Chat was, however, in my personal capacity on the occasion of the 2017 International Women’s Day.”
“In response to a question about the plans of HE John Mahama, I indicated that I had no discussions with him about contesting the next elections, and added that whether he contested the 2020 or the 2024 elections, he would still be a relatively young man and be able to contest.”
“The host of the show then interjected to ask whether that meant I ‘know the NPP will have eight years,’ to which I responded that it wouldn’t really matter because among others, that was the beauty of our democracy.”
She added, “The above cannot, by a stretch of anyone’s imagination, be a statement from me, Joyce Bawah Mogtari, that the NDC is not ready for 2020 or that I will be happy with an eight-year rule for the NPP.”
Source: Daily Guide
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Amen !!to NDC being in opposition for 200 years and I agree with the writer ,the woman spoke the truth and there's no decent human being in the NDC hierarchy right now who I'd devoid of corruption,lies and sharp teeth and also borrowing,borrowing nature, no one is devoid of these instincts that got them in opposition so untill they clear their eyes and stop the lies ,stealing of state properties ,enriching themselves when they come to power within 4 yrs ,they all have two houses ,tractors ,suvs nd fat bank accounts in Dubai at the expense of the heavily taxed kayayei and all of us for those few ***barred word*** NDC ***barred word*** to come loot everything again, lai Lai., not ever again will we allow NDC to come to power ,we changing the constitution and cleaning the electoral register and making sure like we done last time that nobody steals the elections again just Like u 've been stealing all the time ,there is a saying u reap what u sow and God has surely punished the NDC for all the atrocity and lies and blood occult dealings during election ,This is a nation of truth and God hates liars who inflate the prices of road building ,school building and toilets ,$200,000 for 1 toilet ?? Vice president building 15 billion why why NDC Y? U SHALL ROT IN OPPOSITION INSHA ALLAH ,we already don't respect u as a credible opposition cuz all u predict is Doom and gloom for Ghana so we 'll listen to CPP ND PPP MORE THAN NDC cuz u guys are all liars and ***barred word*** who come to power to enrich yourselves at the expense of the poor suffering Ghanain ,take a good look at Asiedu Nketia ,such a ***barred word*** had the odacity to tell Rawlings to ***barred word*** cuz he's an old dog that's of no use ??? He should be hanged by his balls and ripped of his position nd properties for those corrupt deals ....look into his business MrPresident cuz am NDC and I know how wicked and conniving they are ....
The truth always hurt Koku the lady hit below the belt and you are confuse.Eight years is around the corner so stay calm.
i listened to the interview. and her response was as she has stated above. the NDC people should leave her alone and concentrate on how to keep the government on its toes.
It is my candid wish to see the NDC members fight among themselves and destroy the ev1l, greedy and corrupt party. They are not fit to rule this country again. I can see them remaining in opposition for 40 years..... Take a look at the tall list of corrupt things done under their watch from SIC guaranteeing loans to DVLA....