Kweku Bortsie Idan (YesuBa), a concerned party member and youth activist of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), submitted a formal petition to the party’s National Secretariat, calling for the nullification of the recent vetting process for the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) position in the Effutu Constituency. This petition highlights significant concerns regarding bias, irregularities, and a lack of adherence to established guidelines during the January 14, 2025 vetting.
Problems with the Selection Process
In his petition, Kweku pointed out that the selection process had serious issues. The panel did not ask the right questions to check if the candidates had the skills and leadership qualities needed. Instead, it seemed to favour Ms Okailey Ayitey, even though her qualifications did not match the standards set in Section 4 of the guidelines for skills and experience. Kweku also mentioned that Ms Ayitey did not have the right educational background or the necessary qualities to represent the President well in their area.
Also, people were worried about her being invited to compete at the last minute, supposedly because she is close to the Regional Chairman. There were reports that she got help filling out her application forms, which made people wonder if there was unfair influence and favouritism in the selection process.
Kweku (YesuBa) also mentioned that the other top candidates—Mr. Abraham Henry Arthur and Mr. Atta Mensah—were closely connected to the Central Regional Chairman. He noted that Mr. Mensah had lost an election for the position of Central Regional Deputy Youth Organizer before but was now being considered for the MCE role as a form of compensation. This raised concerns about whether the vetting process was fair and honest.
The petition pointed out that seven other candidates, who had a lot of experience in local government, got unfairly low scores. This result not only damaged the fairness of the selection process but also made people worry about whether the seven-member panel was truly unbiased and whether the Regional Chairman had too much influence.
A Request for Transparency
Kweku’s petition asked the National Secretariat to act quickly:
– Look into any issues with the vetting process.
– Cancel the results of the vetting exercise.
– Form a new, fair committee to make sure the selection process is just.
– Make sure only suitable candidates are chosen for the MCE role.
He emphasized that allowing such a flawed process to stand would set a dangerous precedent and undermine public confidence in NDC’s internal democratic processes. The credibility of the party rests on principles of fairness, transparency, and meritocracy.
Conclusion
As party members support this petition, it shows a shared wish for honesty in how the NDC chooses its leaders. Kweku Bortsie Idan’s actions show a strong effort to bring back trust in politics and make sure the right people are chosen for important leadership roles in their community. The National Secretariat now has an important task to deal with these issues and stick to the values that their party was founded on.
Story by: David Gunshot
