The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Kwetey, has dismissed claims of internal friction within the party following President John Dramani Mahama’s directive to the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, and the Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, to withdraw a private member’s Bill seeking to scrap the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Face to Face on Tuesday, December 16, Mr Kwetey said differing views expressed by individuals should not be misconstrued as the official position of the party.
“Now, this view on the Special Prosecutor, clearly, I mean, individuals can have their own perspective. The decision becomes a political decision if it’s discussed at the highest level of our party. So, for example, the political committee of the party that is led, for example, by the president, and that has key people, not just at the current level of leadership, but also past leaders of the party, sit together and say, this is our position.
“Then anyone who articulates that position is speaking on behalf of the party. Otherwise, whatever somebody might say in parliament represents the person’s personal positions and that personal position is absolutely not the party’s position. It’s okay to have disagreement, it’s not a problem,” he said.
Mr Kwetey further stressed that the President, as leader of the party, ultimately articulates the party’s official stance on critical national issues.
“What the president states as the leader of the party represents that. The president can even disagree with the finance minister. At the end of the day, the one who is in charge of the vehicle is the president. The president, together with the leadership of the party, represents the party’s highest position. So those decisions have to be made,” he added.
He emphasised that while party members are free to express personal opinions, they must be clear when such views do not reflect the NDC’s official position.
“We are not even saying that you are not entitled to have your personal opinion. Don’t forget that the majority in parliament represents what you call a part of the political party. But individuals still can have individual positions, but ultimately, the view of the party is articulated either by the President,” he said.
Mr Kwetey’s comments come amid speculation that President Mahama’s directive to withdraw the Bill had triggered internal disagreements within the NDC—claims he firmly rejected.
