A press conference recently held by a group identifying as the “Concerned and Aggrieved Youth of the NDC” over the delayed selection of a District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Kpandai District has been condemned by a group calling themselves the Real Concerned Youth of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the area.
In a press conference held on Monday, April 21, at the constituency party office in Kpandai, the Real Concerned Youth issued a statement clarifying that their intention was not to attack anyone but to promote unity and uphold the values that bind the NDC party in the district.
They emphasised their commitment to defending the party’s integrity and ensuring due process in the DCE selection.
The youth, led by Janfour Benipoumchie, reminded the public that the power to appoint a District Chief Executive rests solely with the President of the Republic. Their position, as the Real Concerned Youth of the NDC in Kpandai, is clear and principled: “The President has the right to appoint any qualified, competent, and loyal member of the party from the three shortlisted candidates, should he deem them fit,”
“In fact, we want to remind them that 17 party members in total applied for the DCE position when the three names were published by Tamale radio. The remaining 14 aspirants and their numerous supporters did not rise up in protest. Were they fools? Don’t they also have followers? Couldn’t they have destabilised the party? They did not because they respected the process. Even though it did not go their way, they still respected the process and kept faith. If those 14 had reacted with the same energy and resistance being shown now, would the three shortlisted individuals have had the peace of mind to travel to Accra for vetting? This shows the maturity and discipline of the remaining 14 aspirants. That is what we call respect and love for the party,” Janfour Benipoumchie said.
The youth condemned the use of derogatory language, such as “weak,” “unpopular,” or claims that someone had been “smuggled” into the process, calling such statements unfortunate, inaccurate, disrespectful, and misleading.
“Just take a look at those referring to the party leadership as weak, unpopular, and smuggled. Who among them possesses the qualities that are closer to the rank and file of the party in Kpandai? Every single individual who showed interest in this contest is a proud member of our party and has served in various capacities, sacrificed, and earned the right to be appointed as the DCE of Kpandai. We call on our colleagues to stop these baseless attacks and personal insults. We shall gain nothing by threatening each other. If anything, we weaken our party and give power to our opponents to use against us,” he said.
The youth also condemned the recent attack on the Constituency Chairman, Mr. Kwame Bawa, popularly known as “Who Knows”, in the press conference held by the allegedly aggrieved youth on 20th April.
They described this attack as unnecessary and disrespectful, noting that disagreements with a leader’s stance should always be addressed with respect and dignity, to ensure the unity of the party.
The Real Concerned Youth criticised calls for the resignation of the Constituency Chairman, suggesting that such actions only served the interests of a few individuals, not the masses.
“Accusing the Constituency Chairman of betraying the constituency simply because you disagree with the process does not reflect the values of the NDC. The NDC is bigger than a few individuals’ interests. We also take serious issue with the threat issued to the President that if the President does not choose from the three names, the NDC in Kpandai will be ‘dead and buried.’ How can a few individuals from a polling station we always lose threaten the movement to appoint an individual of their interest as the DCE?” Janfour added.
They assured the regional and national leadership that the views of the Real Concerned Youth in Kpandai represented the majority of NDC members in the district. They made it clear that the voices of the self-proclaimed aggrieved youth, who had not even won their own polling station, should not be taken seriously.
The Real Concerned NDC Youth in Kpandai expressed confidence that the NDC in the district is alive, strong, and reshaping. They called for the appointment of a DCE who would support the resetting agenda of President John Dramani Mahama and the NDC government—someone who could play a role in moving the district forward, regardless of whether they were from the original shortlist.
The youth also reiterated their support for the careful and thoughtful approach taken by the national leadership, as outlined by the National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, who had addressed the issue of delays in MMDCE appointments.
They reminded everyone that the leadership has received multiple petitions and concerns from across the country and is taking its time to vet, consult, and appoint the most suitable candidate.
In conclusion, the Real Concerned NDC Youth in Kpandai called for unity within the party and urged their colleagues to focus on the party’s success rather than individual interests. They pledged their full support for whoever is appointed as DCE, provided the candidate is NDC, and called on all party members in Kpandai to do the same.
They called on the President, the National Chairman, and other executives of the party to disregard the press conference held by the allegedly aggrieved youth, stating that it was “misinforming, misleading, and ultimately selfish.”
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