The Ashanti Regional Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress, (NDC ) has fiercely rejected claims that it burned their own party office during the recently held limited registration exercise by the Electoral Commission.
Reacting to Ghanaian Observer Newspaper about speculations that the party did that to cover up for the squandering of monies which were meant to recruit agents for the exercise, Mr Raymond Tandoh said the allegations were ‘frivolous and hellish’.
The Regional Secretary insisted that they still suspect some persons from the opposition party to have been involved in the act of cowardice.
According to him, the incident came on the heels of similar unruly and disruptive attempts by the opposition New PatrioticParty, (NPP)at Asawasi and Asokore Mampong where they nearly beat up some members of the NDC at several polling stations.
CLAIMS :
Mr Tandoh debunked claims that the party had starved their agents of funds meant for them from the national headquarters.
He disclosed the Ashanti Regional Branch at the beginning of this year decided to fund its own activities.
This, he said was because they had some appointees in government as well as metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives who were resourceful to help in taking care of the party in the region.
The likes of Dr Stephen Opuni, CCOBOD CEO, Johnny Osei Kofi, Deputy Chief of Staff and Samuel Yaw Adusei, Deputy Works and Housing Minister, the Regional Secretary noted had been helping to resource the party.
He therefore denied shelving funds meant for its agents who supervised the just ended limited registration exercise.
BACKGROUND :
A few weeks ago during the recently held limited registration exercise , the Amakom based regional party office was burnt and some gallons of kerosene and petrol retrieved at a place close to the window of the chairman’s office.
Though the room of the regional chairman, Mr Yaw Obimpeh was partially burnt, only the air condition, standing fan and some stationery were seen to have been affected by the light blaze.
However, grapevine sources pointed to an orchestration of the entire incident.
Many, including some NDC members were highly suspicious of their own Chairman, who they claimed had orchestrated the action for a cover up.
They alleged, monies meant for agents had been stashed away by some executives including the chairman and pointed to a cover up by the burning of the office.
RECORD:
But, in response,Mr Tandoh said for the first time in the history of the party in Ashanti, all agents were paid their full allowances two days to the end of the registration exercise.
This, he said was contrary to what pertained in the past where agents of the party were paid after such exercise.
He also claimed every resource needed by the agents to carry out their duties were provided ahead of time.
READINESS:
The regional Secretary disclosed the Ashanti Regional Branch were battle ready for the upcoming General election.
According to him, the NDC was poised to rake in the 1million votes it has envisioned in the opposition NPP stronghold.
He indicated the party’s intention to match the NPP boot for boot in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary polls.
