Coalition of NDC Footsoldiers petition President
The Coalition of National Democratic Congress (NDC) Footsoldiers has appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to consider appointing a capable person from the Zongo communities in Ashanti Region as the deputy regional minister.
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In their view, such a strategic appointment would go a long way to complement the work of the incoming regional minister and enable the NDC to meet its one million votes target in the region.
The petition issued by the coalition also commended the national officers of the party, especially President Mahama, for his faith in their ability to obtain the one million votes in the region in the 2016 elections.
The petition was signed by Mr Nurideen Ishaq, Chairman; Mr Ben Abdallah, Secretary; and Alhaji Mustapha Alhassan, Organiser.
The coalition is made up of 13 groups which are Operation One Million Votes in Ashanti; Barsheka, Gaskia Club, John Mahama Fan Club, Zongo for Mahama, Mahama for 2016, Friends of Kumasi, Zongo Youth and Asawase Youth.
The rest are: Lordina Ladies, NDC Serial Callers in Ashanti, Volunteers for Mahama and Coalition of NDC.
According to the coalition, most of the NDC’s activities in the region took place in the Zongo communities, therefore the appointment of a competent personality from the Zongos would position the party to make an impact in the region.
They argued that the achievement of the region’s target of a million votes could be achieved in the Zongos and through the the activities of the coalition.
The petitioners recalled that the NDC had been recording massive votes in the Zongo communities so the appointment of one of them to the highest position in the region would excite the member of the communities to work tirelessly in the region to achieve the target.
Explaining further to the Daily Graphic in an interview, Alhaji Mustapha Alhassan said since 1992, the NDC had won votes in the Zongo communities within Asawase, Moshie, Manhyia, Tepa, Ejura, Abofuo, Ejisu and Tafo.
Others are: Juaben, Bantama and Oheneboboano.
Alhaji Alhassan, popularly known as Alhaji Atta Tailor, said he was not happy that the Zongo communities had been neglected for a long time and thought it would be prudent if they were considered for some of the key regional positions.
Already, he intimated, the regional minister and the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive positions had been taken up so it would be good for the Zongos to be considered for the deputy regional minister position.
He disclosed that the Zongo communities would adopt an indifferent attitude during the 2016 elections, if their petition was not considered, adding “we feel sidelined for too long and we are only asking for our legitimate due in a party we love so much.”
Canvass
The petition said the leadership would use the appointment to canvass for more votes by showing the appointment to them as a reward for their hard work.
The statement said having their own people talking to them in their own dialect could have immense effect on Zongo communities and could be a match changer in favour of the NDC in the region.