Mr Sammy Gyamfi, NDC National Communications Officer

Regional communication officers of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) are said to be living in state of fear and panic ahead of the party’s regional elections next year.

Almost all the 16 Regional communication officers, THE CUSTODIAN has gleaned, are going to be contested by their current deputies, apparently due to some bad blood and issues of ‘chop, chop’.

This paper has gathered that the fight is all about lack of accountability, regional communication officers ‘chopping’ party cash alone and shamelessly disrespecting their deputies.

It was learnt that at the peak of the 2020 election campaign, about GH¢30,000 was sent to each regional communication officer for radio adverts and other activities.

However, most of these regional officers failed to use the money for the intended purposes but rather ‘chopped’ the cash without the knowledge of their deputies.

These allegations, according to information received, are the main reasons the regional communication officers would be kicked out of office at the next polls.

One of the fiercest contests will be in Ashanti Region where the regional communications officer Nurudeen Abas will be facing his Deputy, Alex Kweku Asafo Agyei.

NDC sources have told THE CUSTOIDAN that Nurudeen and Asafo Agyei were allies of Mr Sammy Gyamfi prior to 2020 election.

However, there have been frosty relationship between the two over a series of reasons that this paper is investigating and will report later.

Mr Asafo Agyei declared his intention to contest for regional communications officer on Accra-based Power FM a few days ago.

Another worried officer is the Central Regional Communications Officer, Kwesi Dawood.

Mr Kwesi is also going to face off with his deputy, Kwesi Ghattey in what is anticipated to be “a do or die affair”.

But fear has gripped Kwesi Dawood over the contest so much that he is reportedly lobbying all those who matter in central region to persuade his Deputy not to contest him.

Similarly, the Western Regional Communications Officer, Mr Richard Kirk-Mensah is sleeping with his eyes opened.

This is because his deputy, Mr Ebenezer Essien has resolved to give him a hot contest.

Another hugely worried person is the Volta Regional Communications officer, Mr Sorkpa Kafui Agbleze who will not go unopposed again as his deputy, Delali Bright Kugbeadzo has shown interest to contest for the substantive position in 2022.

In all, with the exception of Savannah and Bono regions communications officers, Malik Basiltale and Charles Akowa respectively, who are in good relationship with their deputies, this paper has learnt that all the 14 regional communication officers are going to face off with their deputies.

Sammy Gyamfi fights deputy

In a related development, Sammy Gyamfi, the overall boss nearly beat the hell out of Kwesi Dawood in Ho where the NDC Communication team met to celebrate their 2020 defeat to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) at Volta Serene hotel.

THE CUSOTIDAN gathered that Sammy Gyamfi after picking intelligence that most of the Regional Communication officers are having issues with their deputies decided to call them for a brief meeting.

In the meeting, Mr Gyamfi apparently asked the regional officers to settle their disagreements with their deputies through apologies.

The NDC national communications officer reportedly admitted that he was also having issues with some of regional officers and that if anybody wanted to contest against them, they were free to do so because “we are in a democratic world”.

Consequently, the central regional communications officer, Kwesi Dawood got infuriated and started blaming Sammy Gyamfi for encouraging his deputy to contest him.

Mr Sammy, this paper was informed, got angry and started asking Kwesi Dawood who does he think he is, pointing fingers at the central regional office, “Who are you and what can you do?”.

Insider sources said it took the intervention of the people around to stop them from exchanging blows.

Mr Kwesi Dawood, this paper learnt, was once a darling boy of Sammy Gyamfi who made him Dean of Regional communication officers of NDC.