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A leading figure of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has warned footsoldiers of the party to desist from putting undue pressure on President John Dramani Mahama, over constant demands for revival of appointees or risk sending the party to opposition.

Alhaji Alhassan Tapsoba, who is also a former Deputy National Director of Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Agency (GYEEDA) in charge of operations, noted that such action by the footsoldiers only seek to undermine the authority of the President and crate division and disaffection amongst supporters of the party.

Alhaji Tapsoba, who is also a member of the NDC Election Task Force further lamented that the incessant demands by footsoldiers and grassroots members, DCEs and other appointees is not the best, stressing that the development could spell doom for the NDC in the upcoming elections.

According to him, some of the demands are of no basis and are normally motivated by hatred, jealously and whims and caprices of individuals, stressing that as the party confronts the crucial 2016 elections, such attitude must be nipped in the bud if the party can retain power.

The NDC leading member said the action of these footsoldiers only tend to make the government and the ruling party unpopular in the eyes of voters and this, he said can affect the chances of retaining power in 2016.

Speaking to The Chronicle in an interview, Alhaji Tapsoba indicated that it is important for footsoldiers to respect the President’s decision and have faith in his appointees.

He noted that the appointees are the vicegerents of the president at the local levels and are there to serve on behalf of the President; therefore, any form of insolence shown to them goes a long way to affect the Presidency.

“We must know that any decision made by the president is informed by critical consideration based on intelligence he receives, constantly calling on him to dismiss appointees at the least provocation only seeks to undermine the authority of the Presidency,” he lamented.

He observed that since 2009 when the NDC regained power under the late President John Evans Atta Mills, grassroots supporters have always resorted to violence and intimidations to express their grievances and displeasure at government appointees, an attitude which he says must not be entertained going into the 2016 elections.

The concerns of ALhaji Tapsoba follows recent unrests in the Eastern Region, when some group of party supporters besieged the office of a DCE, calling for his removal , as well as footsoldiers in the Ejisu Juaben Constituency in the Ashanti Region, who were at constant loggerheads with the former MCE, Mr. Afrigah Yamoah Ponkoh.

He further cited the agitations last year by party supporters that culminated in the dismissal of the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Samuel Sarpong and his deputy Joseph Yamin, asserting that such incidents only help portray the NDC as a violent party.

“If we take this attitude into the 2016 general elections, we will not only lose parliamentary seats to the NPP but it will also affect the chances of President Mahama retaining victory,” he warned.

He, therefore, advised party supporters to resort to dialogue and non-violent means to resolve their grievances.