Majority Chief Lockson-Nelson Dafairmekpol has rubbished claims that NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah is utilizing his ongoing nationwide appreciation tour to quietly marketing campaign for a future presidential election.
Talking on PM Specific on Tuesday, the South Day MP maintained that there was nothing uncommon in regards to the train, saying the NDC chairman had been conducting comparable inspections since 2021.
Responding to strategies that the journey could also be positioning Asiedu Nketiah forward of a future flag bearer contest, the South Day MP mentioned he had not personally mentioned such ambitions with the Speaker.
“To start with, I do not know. I discuss to the get together chairman typically. I spoke to him right this moment, however I did not have an opportunity to ask him about this,” he mentioned.
Mr Dafeamekpor defined that the constituency go to started after the NDC obtained ministerial appointments and accomplished its post-election neighborhood actions.
“What I do know is that he has been doing this tour since round April 2025, simply when John Mahama accomplished his ministerial appointments and did his regional tour,” he mentioned.
He mentioned there have been issues inside the get together that after the 2024 election, supporters on the constituency stage weren’t being valued sufficient.
“The issues of not visiting constituencies have been talked about within the nationwide govt assembly and there have been complaints that outdated folks got here and understood, however the get together ought to come,” he mentioned.
“They mentioned the get together had fought arduous so the get together ought to come to the bottom and present their gratitude. We’ve got been in opposition for eight years.”
Mr Dafeamekpor famous that the Speaker’s go to took practically a yr as a result of scale and logistics concerned.
“As you already know, the logistical mobilization to go to these constituencies isn’t any joke. So he’s doing it methodically and I believe it will likely be over quickly,” he added.
He mentioned the chairman’s engagement with get together members, chiefs, Queen Moms and different teams supporting the NDC shouldn’t routinely be construed as presidential campaigning.
“I do not know the way that matches or impacts the flag motion agenda,” he says.
Requested whether or not the tour had given Asiedu Nketiah an unfair benefit over different gamers who might later compete for the NDC flag bearer spot, Dafaamekpor strongly refuted it.
“I believe the query folks needs to be asking is whether or not the Speaker goes round claiming to be the usual bearer,” he requested.
The Majority Whip additionally rejected claims that the present tour’s visibility is unprecedented.
Requested whether or not Asiedu Nketiah had carried out an identical train in 2021, he replied: “Sure, we have been in opposition to it. Go and verify the file.”
He recalled that the NDC Chairman visited a number of communities in his constituency throughout his earlier tour.
“He visited Kpewe, he visited Piki, he visited Tongo and we took him to Gemeni market,” he mentioned.
Dafa Amekpol mentioned the 2021 tour targeted on energizing get together supporters following the controversial 2020 election outcomes.
“He needs to guarantee them that we gained the election however we have been fooled so they need to imagine us and in 2024 he’ll lead the group and destroy the NPP,” he mentioned.
“Due to this fact, it’s not true that that is the primary time he has undertaken a thanks tour as chairman after a normal election.”
