Some members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Nadowli Kaleo constituency have accused the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, of improperly interfering in the nomination process for the District Chief Executive (DCE) position.
The members, which include Council of Elders, Constituency, Branch, and Ward executives, have alleged that Mr. Bagbin submitted two names, Mary Haruna and Bartholomew Nanbazing, to the national vetting committee, despite these individuals being disqualified by the regional vetting committee of the party.
The NDC members have petitioned the Chairman of the vetting committee to disregard these names and to reject the Speaker's attempts to impose his preferred candidates on the district.
In a statement to the media in Nadowli, Mr. Frederick Kaningen, the Constituency Organizer, warned that the party would not accept the nomination of anyone for the DCE position outside of the three shortlisted candidates.
“It has come to our attention that the Right Honorable Speaker is frantically attempting to circumvent the legitimate vetting process sanctioned by the party, all in a desperate bid to force a candidate who did not make it to the list of three nominees for the position of District Chief Executive of Nadowli kaleo.
“This unacceptable interference by the Right Honorable Speaker is not only a slap in the face of the party's rank-and-file, but also a direct assault on the democratic principles we hold dear.”
Sixteen (16) candidates applied for the Nadowli Kaleo District Chief Executive position. After a successful vetting process, three candidates, Timothy Diedeme, Joseph Dakurah and Lampson Adams Justice L, were shortlisted for further vetting at the national level.
The party members noted that “the selection of the above persons duly reflects the feelings of the party at the grassroots and is widely accepted by the rank and file of the party.”
“These individuals embodied the values and aspirations of the party and any attempt to impose an unqualified and undeserving candidate is a grave insult to the people of Nadowli Kaleo,” the NDC members added.
The members expressed concern that choosing a candidate outside the three shortlisted by the regional vetting committee would disrupt the party's unity.
“If this conduct is not halted immediately, it will destabilize the peace and unity of our calm and peace-loving constituency in the Upper West Region. We will not sit idly by and watch the selfish interests of a few individuals destroy the hard-earned trust and cohesion of our party.”
According to the NDC members, the two names allegedly added to the shortlisted applicants have no ties to the party’s grassroots.
“Therefore, we are completely appalled and disheartened by the efforts to impose individuals who do not meet these criteria and have no ties to the grassroots. We firmly reject this unacceptable display of nepotism and favoritism which has no place in our party or our democracy,” they added.
They reminded President John Dramani Mahama that dedicated individuals from the constituency, who worked tirelessly to ensure the party’s return to power, have yet to be rewarded for their hard work.
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