NDC organiser urges supporters to remain united

The Deputy National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Yaw Boateng Gyan, has urged supporters of the party not to use their dislike for certain personalities selected for the position of metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCE) to cause confusion in the party.
He said there had been adequate consultation and screening before the selection of the chief executives, however, “as human as we are, it is certain that not all our party members would agree to some of the selected people. But this objection should be expressed in a manner not to the detriment of the unity of the party”.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, about the recent expression of displeasure with certain persons selected by President J.E.A. Mills for the position of MMDCE, Mr Boateng-Gyan said the problem had occurred at a few areas because the people were of the view that such personalities were not party members and neither had they contributed in any way to the victory of the party.
He explained that not all party supporters mounted platforms or publicly showed their support for the NDC. Some, he said, contributed their quota in diverse ways behind the scenes to the success story of the NDC.
He said although the constitution had made it clear that it was the preserve of the President to select chief executives, however, President Mills did not exercise such prerogative alone but set up a high-powered team to do a search in consultation with stakeholders.
Mr Boateng-Gyan said the team selected three persons from each district and submitted the names to the President and it was out of the three that the one chosen as the nominee, one after a thorough background checks on them.
He conceded that the party should have educated the party people about the choices made and the reasons behind such selection, explaining that such a move would have limited the problems.
He said currently, he (Mr Boateng-Gyan) and other executives of the party were educating party members in the Brong Ahafo Region on those who had been selected and expressed the hope that the calls for their withdrawal and demonstrations would be minimised.
"We should not create the impression that there is total chaos in the NDC; people must bear in mind that of the over 140 people named, there is rejection at very few places," Mr Boateng-Gyan added.
Mr Boateng-Gyan also appealed to chiefs not to put undue pressure on the President even after he (President) had named his nominee for the position saying "such a move creates more confusion.”
He said the chiefs must also try to accept the nominees and work out how best they would be able to cooperate with such nominees for the development of the districts.
He said although it was the prerogative of the President to select a nominee for the position, the district assembly also had a major role in that decision, because they had to vote to approve or disapprove the nominees.