The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has moved swiftly to distance itself from controversial remarks made by one of its members, Comrade Dela Edem, directed at former President and statesman H.E. John Agyekum Kufuor.
In an official statement issued on the 17th of November, the party acknowledged the “unsavoury and distasteful” comments attributed to Edem. The NDC, however, expressed relief that the comrade had retracted his statements and offered an “unqualified apology” to the former President.
“The NDC adds its voice to the apology that has been rendered and hopes that this retraction and apology brings closure to the matter,” the statement read.
The party reaffirmed its commitment to upholding respect for elders and statesmen, stressing that the apology was in line with its values of decency and respect within political discourse.
“The NDC as a party accords utmost respect to the elderly in our society and honour to our statesmen,” it continued. The statement further called on all communicators within the party to refocus on promoting the policies of the NDC’s presidential candidate, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, and his transformational vision for the country as the December 7th election approaches.
While condemning the incident, the NDC shifted its attention to what it described as the increasing prevalence of fake news, particularly as the general elections draw near. The party issued a stern warning to the media, urging them to remain vigilant against the spread of misleading and malicious information.
“It has become the modus operandi of some functionaries and hirelings of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to manufacture and disseminate fake news and malicious publications calculated to mislead the Ghanaian public,” the NDC stated, accusing the ruling party’s operatives of escalating these activities as the election nears.
The statement further took aim at certain NPP communicators and Presidential Staffers, branding them as “unscrupulous” and calling on the media to expose them.
“Such persons, some of whom are known NPP communicators and Presidential Staffers, must be called out by the media and made to face the full rigours of the law,” the NDC emphasized, adding that the media had an essential role to play in ensuring the integrity of information ahead of the elections.
Sammy Gyamfi, the NDC’s National Communications Officer, signed off on the press statement, reiterating the party’s commitment to truthful communication in the lead-up to the December 7 elections.
“We urge all to stay focused on the policies that will better the lives of Ghanaians,” Gyamfi concluded.
As the political temperature heats up with just weeks to the general elections, the NDC’s statement signals its determination to project unity within its ranks while taking a firm stance against the spread of fake news. Meanwhile, the apology to Kufuor, though welcomed by the party, serves as a reminder of the tensions that often spill over in the fraught political landscape.
Source: The Hawk