The General-Secretary of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, has firmly defended the party’s recent directive requiring public office holders to resign from their government roles if they wish to contest for party positions.
Mr Kwetey emphasised that this move is a collective decision by the party’s National Executive Committee and represented a long-standing evolution within the NDC to ensure dedicated focus on either public service or party administration.
Speaking on the party’s recently released timetable for internal elections in an interview, Mr Kwetey dismissed any notion that the policy is new or contentious, stating, “This is not even a new thing at all.”
He added that the party had previously allowed individuals to hold both government and party positions, citing examples like E. T Mensah, who served as both a minister and youth organiser.
However, after losing power in 2000, the party began to shift its stance, eventually preventing Members of Parliament from simultaneously holding party executive roles.
Demanding position
Mr Kwetey argued that holding demanding public offices—such as minister, deputy minister, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), deputy CEO, or metropolitan, municipal and district chief executive—leaves no adequate time for active party work.
“A position that is very engaging, but very time-consuming… you need to focus completely,” he noted, adding that dual roles made it “difficult” to manage party responsibilities effectively.
He drew on his own experience as Deputy Finance Minister while previously in charge of party communication, explaining he found it impossible to attend party meetings or manage communications.
The General Secretary criticised those opposing the directive, calling their resistance “greed.”
He asserted, “If you still insist that you are holding the position… and you want to still contest for a part of it, then resign from your position six months before an election, in order to come and concentrate fully on the party.”
Mr Kwetey stressed that the party has millions of supporters, and no individual is indispensable, allowing others to step up and serve.
He added that internal guidelines for upcoming elections, including presidential and parliamentary primaries in late next year, would incorporate these new frameworks, with ongoing discussions about delegate system reforms also expected.
Background
The NDC last month, at a press briefing at the party headquarters, announced the road map for the election of its national executive officers slated for December 19, this year.
The party, as part of measures to effectively run its activities, charged government appointees intending to contest for positions in the party to resign at least six clear months ahead of the election.
The affected offices holders include, but are not limited to: Ministers and Deputy Ministers, CEO, Managing Directors, their Deputies, or analogous officers, MMDCEs.
Eligibility
The restrictions, however, exempted Chairpersons or members of Boards, or persons in analogous positions.
The restrictions also mean all those intending to contest at the national level are to resign by June this year to be eligible to contest in the election, while those intending to contest at the regional level are expected to resign by May this year, as the regional elections are slated for November 14-15.
Constituency-level elections would be held on Saturday, October 24-25, which implies that those contesting at the constituency level are expected to resign by April this year, while the branch-level elections would be held on May 30 this year.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh