Some constituency Executives of the NDC in the Volta Region have expressed their frustration at Sly Mensah's refusal to accept a donation geared towards helping him raise funds to cater for the cost of his forms and filing fees.
The said executives claim they gathered a total of GHC 187, 000 from well-wishers, party members and Members of Parliament among others to support the worthy course of Sylvester Mensah.
The executives, intimates they are moved by the competence of Sly Mensah and the intentions he has for the party and have decided to join his campaign in pushing for change in the flagbearership of the party.
"We, however, wish to express our frustration by the refusal of Hon Sly to accept our collective contribution of one hundred and eighty-seven thousand Ghana cedis (GHC187,000) in support of his Nomination forms and filing fees for the leadership elections scheduled for 19th January 2018" a release put on Facebook by the spokesperson of the group, Stanley Junior Agbozo stated.
Stanley Agbozo and his counterparts also include in their statement that they fear the possibility of the party's flagbearership position being sold to the highest bidder.
As a result, they have pledged to do all in their means to oppose such tendencies and are ready to come to Accra on Tuesday to pick up a form for the flagbearer hopeful.
Stanley Junior Agbozo suggested "We shall continue to mobilize more funds in his support and travel to Accra tomorrow, Tuesday to pick a Nomination form in the hope that Sly would reconsider his principled position and wouldn’t refuse to sign. We are also calling on other branch and Constituency executives to join this revolution to rescue the soul of the party from selfish hands. Such high fees can only be justified only if none of the aspirants is limited to just one term of four years"
This news comes on a day when hundreds of supposed NDC supporters queued in front of the House of Former President Mahama, who himself is in the race to lead the party into the 2020 elections, to donate money to his course.
Also, the Asawaase Constituency picked up a nomination form for the Former President at a cost of GHC20, 000 to express their support of his ambition.
Sly Mensah, together with some other aspirants have hinted their displeasure at the huge sums the party is charging for the filing fees.
The party is adamant on modifying the fees put out as it has countlessly justified the amount.
Picking of Nomination forms ends tomorrow Tuesday, December 4, 2018.
Below are the details of the Facebook post by the spokesperson of the constituency executives:
Considering the latest development in our party concerning the recent determination of fees for nomination forms and filing, we the under listed branch and constituency executives have resolved to contribute our widow’s mite to support Hon Sylvester Adinam Mensah. We, however, wish to express our frustration by the refusal of Hon Sly to accept our collective contribution of one hundred and eighty-seven thousand Ghana cedis (ghc187,000) in support of his Nomination forms and filing fees for the leadership elections scheduled for 19th January 2018.
We are doing this because of the fear that some elements at the helm of affairs of the party have planned to auction the position to the highest bidder. The NDC is a party for the grassroots regardless of economic status. We have decided to chart this path because we have absolute confidence in the leadership qualities of Hon Sylvester Mensah, and we believe that he understands the dynamics and expectations of the party and the country more than all aspirants in this NDC flagbearer race
Mr. Mensah’s campaign in the Volta Region has opened our eyes to his level of competence and ability to deliver on issues concerning the party and national development. We, therefore, share his views that the high fees are not only discriminatory but undermines our grassroots culture and subjects the entire party to bad press and public ridicule.
That notwithstanding we feel obliged to respond to the situation in fear that our preferred choice of leader may not be able to raise the amount as he also considers it unethical for any individual through whatever means to pay such high filling fees. What we have raised so far is our widows mite gathered from over 528 delegates including some current and former MPs and other appointees who wouldn’t want to be mentioned. We would like to put on record that most of those who contributed for this course neither got any appointment nor benefitted anything under the erstwhile NDC administration. We believe in CHANGE!
We wish to state that if Sylvester Adinam Mensah pulls out of the flagbearer race we shall withdraw from voting in both the party and national elections. Our earlier victory brought nothing to us and we won’t repeat same for another 4 years where accountability to the grassroots could be doubtful
We are convinced the NDC needs a new breath of life, a new leader and a new vision.
We shall continue to mobilize more funds in his support and travel to Accra tomorrow, Tuesday to pick a Nomination form in the hope that Sly would reconsider his principled position and wouldn’t refuse to sign. We are also calling on other branch and Constituency executives to join this revolution to rescue the soul of the party from selfish hands. Such high fees can only be justified only if non of the aspirants is limited to just one term of four years.
Sylvester Adinam Mensah is our only choice.
STANLEY JNR. AGBOZO
(SPOKESPERSON)
0248654671/0207622360
DANIEL HAMENU
(SECRETARY )
0244215371
SAKO ADAMU
(EXECUTIVE MEMBER)
0548108794
NDC flagbearer hopeful, Sly Mensah interacting with party members during campaign tour