NDC YOUTH ANGRY WITH RM (PAGE 17, MARCH 30, 2010)

SOME aggrieved supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Upper East Region have accused the Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo of awarding contracts in the region to his family members and alleged cronies in the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
They are also complaining of victimisation of perceived party members who are against him.
The NDC members, are therefore, calling on the party’s national executives and the founder of the NDC to intervene to prevent the party from disintegration.
The aggrieved party members who described themselves as Coalition for the Welfare of the Masses (COFTWOM), said they had followed with keen interest the recent happenings in the party in the region with special observation of appointments and the awards of contracts in the region and had observed that NDC stalwarts were being unduly denied appointments and contracts.
Speaking at a news conference in Bolgatanga, the spokesman of the group, Mr Paul Danka, said Mr Woyongo had awarded several contracts worth thousands of Ghana cedis to his nephew, Mr Victor Yahaya, who doubles as a Regional Vice Chairman of the party, and other friends on the opposite side of the political divide.
But for the intervention of the Regional Police task force, there would have been a serious confrontation as persons opposed to the pressure group stormed the VAG Hall, which was the venue for the news conference, to disrupt the programme.
Led by one Hudu Yahaya, the Bolgatanga Constituency Secretary of the NDC, the people stormed the hall, while the news conference was underway and boldly screamed “no press conference, no press conference,” disrupting the programme.
The situation led to some exchange of words till the police stepped in to calm tempers.
The spokesperson of the COFTWOM, Mr John Paul Danka said the group was not against the award of contracts to qualified and competent people as being speculated.
He, however, stated that they were opposed to the regional minister circumventing the rules to enrich political opponents to the detriment of party businessmen, who were equal to the task and had always stood behind the party in times of distress.