Koforidua NDC youth block regional executive from attending fact-finding meeting
The Prof. Kwesi Botchwey-led committee investigating the defeat of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2016 general election had a hectic time undertaking a planned meeting in Koforidua yesterday when it was met with protests by some angry youth of the party.
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The charged youth wanted the regional executive of the party out of the meeting, with the accusation that they squandered money that was given to them for the 2016 election campaign.
For hours, the committee members were unable to undertake any business as the youth demanded that only branch executives be allowed to participate in the discussions because the regional executive members were the cause of the massive defeat of the party in the region.
The NDC, which launched Agenda “50/50” to share the votes equally with the New Patriotic Party in the presidential election, ended up losing heavily.
The NDC candidate, Mr John Dramani Mahama, who was the incumbent President, had 36.6 per cent of the ballot, while the NPP’s Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, now President, had 62.4 per cent of valid votes cast.
Chaotic scenes
The scene at the hotel where the meeting was fixed to take place was hectic as the enraged youth barricaded the entrance of the hotel with motorbikes and stones to prevent the regional executive from entering the hotel.
In the various regions visited, the committee met regional, constituency and branch executive members.
However, the Koforidua meeting turned chaotic as the youth were not prepared to allow their regional executive to participate in the discussions.
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The committee members had no option but to succumb to the demands of the youth as only the branch executive members were allowed to take part in the meeting.
Kofi Adams lauds youth
Meanwhile, the National Organiser of the NDC, Mr Kofi Adams, has lauded the youth in Koforidua for voicing their concerns.
He told Joy FM yesterday that the protests by the youth was indicative that the youth of youth of the party showed that they wanted the best for the party.
“I am quite happy [because] it shows the party is very strong and they [youth] are ready to bring the party to power immediately,” he said.
Mr Adams, who was the campaign coordinator of former President Mahama, further said, “I am happy that people are interested in this party coming to power [and] that is why they have shown that level of enthusiasm.That is how we want things to be done. We don’t want anybody to interfere."