The Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande, has said Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, would have faced suspension if he had publicly criticised the NDC’s national leadership in a similar manner.
Mr Gbande’s comments follow Chairman Wontumi’s public accusations against the NPP’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, and Acting National Chairman, Danquah Smith Buttey, whom he alleged were attempting to frustrate his ambition to become the party’s next National Chairman.
The tension intensified after the NPP national leadership annulled the results of three constituency executive elections in the Ashanti Region and requested explanations from regional executives over the circumstances surrounding the polls.
Speaking on Accra-based Citi FM, Mr Gbande argued that publicly attacking party leadership amounts to indiscipline and undermines established party structures.
“What is happening to them can happen to us, but the difference is the nature of the system that runs the political party. The NDC has competent people of pedigree to man it. What is happening in the NPP now, if it was the NDC, Wontumi would have been suspended. I would have personally called for it,” he said.
He stressed that political parties can function effectively only when members respect internal processes and abide by decisions taken by their leadership.
“It is something that I like to do because I am a system person. If you have studied my boss, the General Secretary, you will see that he is a principled person too. When the party has given instruction that ‘A’ should be done, you definitely have to stay within the remit of the National Executive Committee,” he added.
Mr Gbande further claimed that the NPP has for some time tolerated disorder and indiscipline, allowing some individuals to place themselves above party structures, a situation he said would not be accepted in the NDC.
“The NPP for some time now have enjoyed disorder and indiscipline where some individuals exalt themselves above structures. It cannot happen in the NDC,” he stated.
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