The 2024 NDC parliamentary candidate for Effutu in the Central Region, James Annan, has condemned attacks on the party’s constituency office by some disgruntled supporters.
Some members of the party who were unhappy that Mr Annan had not been given an appointment by President Mahama, went on rampage on Friday, destroying everything in sight.
However, in a statement issued on Friday night, the NDC parliamentary candidate condemned the action of the supporters and urged them to be measured in their expectations and to exercise maximum restraint.
Below is the full statement:
OFFICIAL STATEMENT BY JAMES KOFI ANNAN ON THE ACTION TAKEN BY SOME YOUTH OF THE EFFUTU CONSTITUENCY
My attention has been drawn to reports circulating on social media and other media platforms indicating that some NDC party faithful in the Effutu Constituency have staged a demonstration demanding that His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama consider me for an appointment.
I, totally, condemn the demonstration and completely disassociate myself from the acts.
On the morning of the day the demonstration happened, I picked an intel that some youth were planning to disrupt a meeting of the Constituency Executives in my office. I quickly called the Constituency Deputy Communications officer, informed him about what I had heard and advised them not have the meeting in my office.
I later heard that the youth were rather going to hold a press conference, so I again called the Municipal NIB Officer, to inform him about the planned press conference, and implored him to monitor the situation. I personally forwarded the telephone number of the leader of the youth group to the NIB Officer and asked him to call him.
Unfortunately, all my efforts at preventing the youth from taking the action failed, probably because of my physical absence. Indeed, I have been unwell for some time so I have been out of Effutu seeking medical attention in Accra, and also taking sometime off to rest.
I wish to reiterate that the responsibility to appoint individuals to high offices is the sole prerogative of the President, and I urge the youth in the Effutu constituency to be cautious about how they associate my name to such irresponsible and reckless acts.
We worked hard to bring the party into office, and I believe whatever decision the President or the party takes, is done in the good interest of the party and in the spirit of resetting our country, after eight years of backwardness under the NPP. I, hereby, express my utmost and unwavering support to the President and the NDC Party, and I am of the strong conviction that united we shall succeed.
Our responsibility as a party in the constituency is to come together and support the government to achieve the objectives set in the manifesto.
I urge everyone to be measured in their expectations and to exercise maximum restraint.
End.
Signed
James Kofi Annan
Effutu NDC Parliamentary Candidate in the 2020 and 2024 elections