Mr Ndede Siah, the Western Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, has strongly denied endorsing any candidate in the impending parliamentary primaries in Kwesimintsim. Some websites have misquoted the regional chairman as asking for delegates to retain the unpopular incumbent, Honourable Joe Mensah. But Mr Siah says this is a gross misrepresentation.
According to a source very close to the regional chairman, he is furious that his words have been twisted for political purposes. He insists that as regional chairman, he is bound to work with all candidates to ensure that the party wins the maximum seats possible in the region so he cannot pick and choose which candidates for the constituency electoral colleges. He further states that doing so would contravene the letter and spirit of the party’s rules governing the primary elections.
The chairman, the source said, views this as a direct challenge to his authority and an undermining of his position merely for short term political purposes. It is understood that he has taken steps privately to warn those behind the false story to desist from sharing the false rumour but they have so far refused to heed his warning. It is not clear now whether he intends to issue a public disclaimer but he is said to be considering that option.
This is not the first time Mr Siah has been deliberately misquoted. He was recently said to have predicted that the NPP would lose some seats, including the Essikado seat currently held by the Minister of Railways Development, Honourable Joe Ghartey, to the opposition National Democratic Congress, a statement he denies ever making.
