NDC Chairmen Rebel Against Mills

Information gathered by The Chronicle newspaper indicates that some members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), in the New Edubiase Constituency in the Ashanti Region, are seriously nursing moves to block the confirmation of Nana Oppong Kyekyeku, as District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Adansi South District. The members, according to sources, are enjoying the full support of key members of the current executives in the constituency. Nana Oppong Kyekyeku was nominated by President John Evans Atta Mills last week for the DCE position, following the rejection of Mr. Opoku Manu by the local assembly. Mr. Manu needed 36 votes from the 53-member Assembly to pass the test, but obtained 32 in the first round, and managed 30 in the second round. The NDC Constituency Chairman for New Edubiase, Mr. Festus Addai, who is said to be leading the machination, confirmed the story when contacted on phone on Friday. He argued that the New Edubiase Constituency, which together with the Akrofuom constituency, constitute the Adansi south District, had since 1992 remained committed to the party, but had had nothing in return by way of appointments of DCEs, and advised the President to withdraw the nomination of Nana Oppong Kyekyeku, to avoid embarrassment. Mr. Addai added that he and his group masterminded Mr. Opoku Manu�s failure in the two elections, because they had earlier appealed to the President to withdraw his nomination. �Adansi South will continue to remain without a DCE, should the President refuse to heed our plea for a DCE from the New Edubiase constituency.� The Chairman insisted that he had the majority support from the assembly members, and that the same plot that saw Mr. Opoku Manu not confirmed, would be applied on the new nominee. The Constituency Youth Organiser, Mr. Eric Ofori, also corroborated our story, and hinted that the youth wing of the party in the constituency would within the week embark on a peaceful demonstration to express their discomfort about the President�s decision. It is not clear whether the views of the two represent that of the entire executive, as efforts to reach the other executives proved futile. However, when Nana Oppong Kyekyeku, who is also the NDC Constituency Chairman for Akrofuom, was contacted on phone, he had a different view. �Some of these comments are normal in politics, but I am hopeful that with my relationship with them, it is possible they would soften their stand, if even they have thought of working against me,� he said. The nominee said when his name was first mentioned, he personally called the NDC Constituency Chairman for New Edubiase, to inform him about it. The nominee, who was optimistic about his confirmation, added, �Mr. Addai is my brother, and that he will not do anything to cause my failure.�The nomination of Nana Oppong Kyekyeku was preceded by a series of petitions from the two constituencies (New Edubiase and Akrofuom), with each appealing to the President to nominate a candidate from their constituency.