PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE GRASSROOTS OF THE NDC DEMANDING THE IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL OF MR. JOHN ATTER MATEY AS MCE NOMINEE FOR LOWER MANYA KROBO MUNICIPALITY, DATED 5TH MAY 2025, THE PARTY OFFICE, NUASO NEWTOWN
Ladies and gentlemen of the media, thank you for responding to our invitation to attend this press conference today despite the short notice sent to you. First, we invited you here to express our anger and displeasure over the nomination of Mr. John Atter Matey as Municipal Chief Executive for Lower Manya Krobo Municipality and to call on the President and the leadership of the party to immediately withdraw him because his appointment has further deepened the cracks within the party, which, if not checked, could spell doom for us. The nomination of Mr. Matey is not only a betrayal of the trust of the grassroots but also a direct affront to loyalty, long service to the party, and the democratic will of the people in the municipality.
It is evident that Mr. Matey does not understand the dynamics of politics in our communities, as he lacks a moral compass, unifying character, and the competence required to steer the affairs of the municipality. Ladies and gentlemen of the media, Mr. Matey is divisive and arrogant towards party stalwarts and the grassroots. These tendencies are well-documented. His inability to inspire confidence within the NDC itself makes his nomination as MCE a grave error, to say the least.
Moreover, his commitment to the ideals and principles of the NDC is questionable at best because he does not have a sufficient track record of party loyalty nor has he shown massive sacrifice and dedication that are hallmarks of a true leader within the party. This is the man who has been accused of not accounting for GHC50,000.00 in donations made by one of the four aspirants to the party during the last primaries held in Nuaso. The same person has been accused of hoarding fertilizers meant for farmers in the constituency. Money received for the limited registration and the 2024 general elections was not accounted for. The use of a DRIP machine without accounting for it has also been raised. We see him as not being transparent and accountable to the party people, as his dealings are always shrouded in secrecy.
Ladies and gentlemen of the media, on the contrary, we have competent men and women who are widely known within the party structures, have unwavering loyalty, and have been serving the party for more than three decades now. Their contributions, growth, and widespread acceptance among party folks make them natural and rightful choices. These individuals applied for the same position as him, yet they were disregarded.
Ladies and gentlemen of the media, we want the world to know that the choice of the people has been denied by the President and national leadership of the party. Loyalty and long service to the party have been thrown to the dustbin, paving the way for inexperience and arrogance. Today, our national leadership is telling us that party loyalty and long service do not matter again in politics. These actions by the leadership will discourage people from working hard for the party because when they do, they are not rewarded. Are they saying that the NDC is not worth dying for in Lower Manya Krobo?
We demand to know why the choice of arrogance, incompetence, and inexperience was chosen over humility, respect, competence, experience, loyalty, and long service. This act of political injustice will not only breed discontent but also threatens the unity and stability of the NDC in Lower Manya Krobo.
Ladies and gentlemen of the media, we are therefore calling on the President and the Office of the Chief of Staff to intervene immediately and ensure that justice is done. We will not sit by while internal democracy is being trampled upon – where loyal and competent sons and daughters are being cast aside for political convenience. This is the last warning to the fraternity of party executives. Failure to respond to this petition will not bring peace to the constituency. This is not just about personalities; this is about justice, loyalty, competence, and the future of the NDC in Lower Manya Krobo. We trust that the President will act swiftly to correct this injustice in order to restore hope and confidence to the people.
Thank you.
Odonkor David Der (0243673931)
Francis Kwawukume (0542371377)
