Supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Asawase Constituency are divided over President John Dramani Mahama’s nomination of Ben Abdallah Alhassan as the new Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Asokore Mampong Municipality.
While some welcome the appointment, others, claiming to represent disgruntled NDC grassroots members, have strongly opposed it. Ben Abdallah, currently serving as the party’s Election and Research Director in Asawase, was named MCE on May 6.
However, prior to this announcement, tensions had been brewing over the potential candidates, with one faction backing the current Constituency Chairman, Faisal Dauda, and another supporting Abdallah, who is reportedly aligned with the Asawase Member of Parliament.
At a press conference on May 7, the aggrieved faction expressed their discontent, arguing that Faisal Dauda was the rightful choice for the position. Suleiman Massawud, a representative of the group, emphasized that Dauda’s years of dedicated service as treasurer without controversy made him the ideal candidate.
He questioned why Dauda was overlooked, warning that this decision signaled a disregard for the grassroots members of the party.
In contrast, other constituency executives have rallied behind the President’s decision, praising Abdallah’s appointment and urging party unity. They commended President Mahama for his leadership and expressed confidence that Abdallah will contribute to the development of the municipality.
This rift highlights the challenges facing the NDC as it seeks to balance internal party dynamics while striving for effective leadership at the local level.
