The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has confirmed the disqualification of Dzifa Gunu from contesting the party's La Dadekotopon Constituency Secretary position. According to the party's Acting Director of Elections and IT, Mahdi Gibril, the Greater Accra Regional Elections Committee formally communicated the decision to Mr. Gunu. The disqualification was based on Mr. Gunu's failure to resign from his position as Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Digital Centres Limited at least six months before submitting his nomination.
Mr. Gibril explained that the NDC's election guidelines require aspirants to resign from their positions six months prior to filing their nominations. Those who fail to meet this criterion are disqualified. Mr. Gunu had filed his nomination and appeared before the vetting committee, but a petition was raised that he had not resigned at the time of filing. Despite this, Mr. Gunu argued that his appointment was made by an appointing authority and that he had submitted his resignation letter to that authority.
The NDC provided Mr. Gunu with an opportunity to provide evidence of his resignation, but instead, he wrote to seek clarification on his status without attaching the requested documentation. This led to the party's decision to disqualify him from the contest. Mr. Gunu has since appealed the decision and is seeking to have the disqualification overturned. The appeal is currently being considered by the party.
The La Dadekotopon Constituency Secretary position is a crucial one within the NDC, as it plays a significant role in the party's organizational structure. The position is responsible for overseeing the party's activities in the constituency and coordinating with other party officials. The contest for this position is expected to be fierce, with several aspirants vying for the role.
In a related development, the NDC's online portal for prospective candidates to obtain nomination forms for the constituency elections will open on Tuesday, October 6, and close on October 8. This portal will provide aspiring candidates with the opportunity to obtain nomination forms and submit their nominations for various positions within the party.
The NDC's decision to disqualify Mr. Gunu has sparked debate within the party and among its supporters. Some have expressed concerns that the party's guidelines may be too stringent, while others have argued that the guidelines are necessary to ensure the integrity of the electoral process. The party's leadership has assured members that the guidelines are in place to ensure fairness and transparency.
The outcome of Mr. Gunu's appeal and the subsequent developments in the La Dadekotopon Constituency Secretary race will be closely watched by party members and supporters. The NDC's ability to manage its internal elections effectively will be crucial in maintaining the party's stability and credibility.
Key points
- The NDC disqualified Dzifa Gunu from the La Dadekotopon Constituency Secretary race due to his failure to resign six months prior to nomination.
- Mr. Gunu has appealed the decision and is seeking to have the disqualification overturned.
- The NDC's online portal for prospective candidates to obtain nomination forms will open on October 6 and close on October 8.
