NDC Northern Regional Secretariat vandalised

Some aggrieved youth, believed to be supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), have vandalised the Northern Regional secretariat of the party over the suspension of five regional and constituency executive members of the party.

The aggrieved supporters were said to have stormed the party office on Friday morning, fired gunshots and destroyed property running into thousands of Ghana cedis.

The Daily Graphic gathered that some party executive members who were in their offices for official assignment when the incident occurred managed to escape unhurt.

The Northern Regional Secretary of the NDC, Mr Mohammed Abdul Salam,  who confirmed the incident, said leadership of the party had reported the matter to the police for investigation but declined to comment further, saying that “it is a party matter”.

Indefinite suspension

The Northern Regional Secretariat of the NDC on May 1, 2020 suspended the five regional and constituency executive members indefinitely for allegedly distributing certain items to support Muslims during the  Ramadan fast without the knowledge of the leadership of the party.

The suspended executive members are the Communication Officer of the party, Mr Abdul Mumin Alhassan alias General Amin; Deputy the Communication Officer, Mr Hardi Paghazaa; first Vice Chairman,  Alhaji Hassan Rufai Ahmed Veilim; the  Tamale North Constituency Treasurer, Mr Inusah Salman Fariz and his Deputy, Mr Mohammed Mateen.

A letter signed by the Regional Chairman of the NDC, Alhaji Ibrahim Mobila, said the suspended executive members had distributed some bags of sugar and rice to some  paramount chiefs and opinion leaders in the region in the name of the Flag bearer of the party,Mr John Dramani Mahama without the knowledge of the regional chairman and executive members of those constituencies.

Breach of NDC’s constitution 

The letter said the executive members disregarded the structures of the party which was a breach of article 45(1) of the NDC’s constitution.

“Our concern is not to stop any person or group of persons from donating items to opinion leaders and paramount chiefs within the region in their individual or group capacity, but once the said items are labeled as coming from the flag bearer or for the party’s good, no person is qualified to determine those items are delivered to the recipients except the regional chairman and executive members,” the letter stated.

The five executive members were also accused of embarking on several activities in the name of the party without the consent of the party hierarchy.

Commenting on the suspension of the executive members last Thursday, Mr Abdul Salam said  the five have been referred to the disciplinary committee of the party for further investigation and action.