A viral video of the former Minister for Finance in the erstwhile John Atta Mills administration, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, together with some unidentified members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), soliciting for Ghanaians to join the opposition party is causing a stir in the Umbrella Family.
The one minute, twenty-one seconds (1:21) video features Dr Duffuor and six other persons from all walks of life telling viewers what the NDC means to them.
However, information gathered indicates that some radio and television stations whose owners are loyalists of former President John Dramani Mahama, have refused to play the video of Dr Duffuor’s mobilisation drive.
It is learnt that Power FM and TVXYZ, which are owned by Julius Debrah, former President Mahama’s Chief of Staff, have rejected the Duffuor advert even with huge cash.
However, Duffuor himself has a chain of radio and television stations including GHOne TV, Agoo TV, Starr FM and Kassapa FM where the video and audio can be played.
The video
The video begins with a lady with two children stating that what the NDC means to her is that when her children grow up, “they can be anything they want to be when they grow up” and a lady posing as a student saying that what the NDC means to her is that when she finishes the university, she “will get a job.”
The video also has a driver’s mate, a chief and a market woman stating what NDC means to them.
Duffuor’s move
The clip ends with Dr Duffuor also stating what the NDC means to him with a call on Ghanaians to reach out to branch executives to get their NDC membership cards.
“What the NDC means to me is that everyone in this country will have the opportunity to achieve the Ghanaian dream,” Duffuor is seen and heard saying in the video.
Multiple sources in the NDC have confirmed that Dr Duffuor has the desire to become the party’s flagbearer for the 2024 elections and this is causing some stir in the Mahama camp.
Unsanctioned
However, the national organiser of the opposition NDC, Joshua Akamba, is quoted to have said that Dr Duffuor’s initiative has not been sanctioned by the party leadership.
Speaking in a radio interview, Akamba said such drives usually go through an approval process by the top leadership of the party.
“There is even a mix in communication if he is calling all to come and register. The question is, where will they register in their branches? There is a re-organisation happening at the branch level.
“There is a migration of our data. There is a road map and a constitutional review. There will be a conference on our constitutional amendment before the next elections and Dr Duffuor is supposed to be involved. So if we are all guided by this, we will have a conclusion on the matter. But if we go this way, it is not good conduct. The people with him are not advising him,” Akamba said.
FEC Guidelines
Meanwhile, the communications director of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi, is calling on the Functional Executive Committee (FEC) of the party to issue “guidelines or statement to guide the timing for such campaigns.”
“Much as I don’t have any difficulties with anyone desirous to be a leader or officer of the party campaigning for same, I think the timing for this campaign ad is wrong and inappropriate.
“If we allow things like this now, it can distract us and create needless problems for the party internally and externally. This is particularly so, when the party’s name, logo, colours etc. are being used for the ad. Those who wish to contest for various internal positions must be told to put the party’s interest first and wait for the right time to start their campaigns.
“I will humbly suggest that FEC considers issuing some guidelines or statement to guide the timing for such campaigns,” Gyamfi said.
