UE PNC rubbishes calls to have Ayariga ousted

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Upper East Regional Branch of the Peoples National Convention, (PNC), has disassociated itself from calls by some members of the party to have the party’s flag bearer; Mr. Hassan Ayariga kicked out two-weeks to the December 7 general elections. The Regional Secretary of the party, Mr. Henry Fatchu such attempt to have the flag bearer ousted before the general elections smacks of dishonesty and a lack of understanding of the democracy. He argued that Mr. Ayariga was duly elected at a congress in Sunyani and was officially given a mandate to leader the party into election 2012. Therefore for any individual or group of persons to gang up and to lead a campaign to have the flag bearer removal on the flimsiest of excuse two –weeks to elections smack of lack of appreciation of the tenets of democracy . Mr. Hassan Ayariga has been accused of being an appendage of the governing NDC NDC after his performance at the last IEA debate by some national executives of the party including the National Youth Organizer, Abu Ramadan. The flag bearer has also incurred the wrath of some parliamentary candidates who are alleged to have accused him of working against the part. The group therefore asking the leadership of the party to call the party’s flag bearer to order or force him to step down. In an interview, the Upper East Regional Secretary of the party, Henry Fatchu dismissed the call, stressing that it was misplaced. He said rather than jumping from one radio station to the other and holding press conferences, those championing that campaign should hit the party’s election 2012 campaign trail and mobilize more votes for the party. Mr. Fatchu doubted the level of commitment of those calling for the head of Hassan Ayariga and said even from the privilege position of those championing the call, they have failed to lobby and get support for parliamentary candidates, especially women. “We have female aspirants in this region, who do not have posters, yet, it is a known fact that there are NGOs in Accra who are extending support to women. What have been their contribution to helping our female access these kind of financial support?” he question. “I can tell you for a fact that, those of us in the regions, are working so hard, moving from community to community, village to village to campaign for the party and help the party win more seats in parliament and the least we expect is such divisive calls that has the potential of derailing the forward match of the PNC. He conceded that there is high level of indiscipline in the party this is something the Council of elders and the National Executive Council of the party must work on to bring every one on board. “We are deeply worried at such calls and something must be done about it. He accused those leading the campaign for failing to turn-up at Gwollu fort he launch of the party manifesto by the flag bearer and said if they showed their faces there, visited the grave side of the founder of the party and interacted with the core supporters of the party, they wouldn’t have started the campaign to have the flag bearer ousted at this late hour. Mr. Fatchu enjoin all those leading the campaign to oust Mr. Hassan Ayariga to hit the campaign trail in whatever little way since their input is valuable to the cause of the party. He disagreed with opinions that Mr. Hassan Ayariga did not performed at the IEA debate stressing that all the issues he raised relevant and salient. “He, Hassan Ayariga has set out to redefined politics in Ghana by preaching togetherness, inclusiveness, youth empowerment and economic growth and he articulated his views clearly at the IEA platform. He insisted Mr. Ayariga’s output at the debate does not amount to doing the bidding of any political party but rather utilized it articulate his vision for Ghana. The Upper East Regional Secretary of the party called on all to rally behind their candidate and give him the support in the race for the presidency. -End- Writer's email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh