Atebubu chief: 'I am a member of the NDC'

The Sanaahene of the Atebubu Traditional Council has disclosed that he is a member of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC). Ghana’s constitution forbids chiefs and traditional rulers from taking part in active partisan politics. But Nana Osei Wusu opened up to Chief Jerry Forson on Accra100.5FM’s Ghana Yensom Thursday March 31, 2016 that he is affiliated to the NDC. He was speaking about his unhappiness with the violence that rocked Atebubu-Amantin Wednesday night. The constituency witnessed disturbances when two NDC youth factions, allied to the District Chief Executive (DCE) of the area, Sampson Oti Boateng; and the Member of Parliament (MP), Sanja Nanja; respectively, clashed as the MP’s supporters tried to seize the DCE’s official vehicle from him.

The lawmaker’s supporters claimed the DCE had been removed from office by President John Mahama and, therefore, was not entitled to keep a duty vehicle assigned to him. The DCE and his supporters resisted the move, stating there had been no official communication to him regarding his removal from office.

The violent scenes culminated in the torching of the NDC’s office and injuries to a few persons. Mr Oti Boateng’s house was also ransacked and the DCE is reported to be seeking refuge outside the town. Police and military men dispatched to the scene have brought the situation under control, but Nana Osei Wusu, who is also a member of the district assembly is unhappy.

He said: “If the president and his appointees are listening to me, they should come again and do what will put the party in good light. Otherwise, this party will go into opposition. I told you last year that if things are not addressed, the party will head into opposition. Will it be a good thing if we end up in opposition? “There are some people when they are talking, you can tell which party they belong to. I cannot openly declare that I am NDC or NPP, but I can tell you I am with the NDC because I am a government appointee at Atebubu-Amantin [District Assembly].”

 He said he would want to see the in-fighting cease and peace returning to the party, which he said can only happen if the president clarifies the DCE’s status by writing a letter formally to inform the assembly of the removal of Mr Boateng, if rumours of him being axed from office were true.