Allotey Jacobs reacts to NDC suspension letter

Allotey Jacobs, the former Central regional chairman of the National Democratic Congress, has said he has received a decision to suspend him from the party in good faith and has no intention to challenge it.

The comments came after a directive, signed by the NDC national chairman, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, suspending him from party activities and referring the matter to the NDC’s disciplinary committee.

The suspension letter, dated 6 May, followed a meeting of the party’s “Functional Executive Committee” that same day. Reports suggest that it discussed his flouting of a party decision barring NDC commentators from appearing on Peace FM’s top-rated morning show, Kokrokoo.

The NDC more broadly accuses Allotey Jacobs of bringing it into ill-repute by comparing it unfavourably with the governing New Patriotic Party.

Beautiful good, beautiful bad

Allotey Jacobs, however, says he will continue to offer an honest opinion on all media if he is given the platform to comment on current affairs.

As he told journalists, “A political party is a voluntary organisation that is spearheaded by a group of people whom we elect to office to steer the affairs of the party. It’s voluntary.

“So if they have met and have decided that they are going to suspend me, that is beautiful. I have nothing to say.

“But that will not stop me from going to radio programmes and standing up for the truth.

“When it is good, I will say it. When it is bad, I will say it.

Stand for truth

“I have my own, independent mind and I will always stand for the truth and if the party dislikes it and for that reason, they are suspending me that’s beautiful.

“I am now a social commentator so if I’m invited by the production team, I will be at the station.”

However, the former NDC regional chairman denied claims that he is in bed with the NPP. He has been much criticised for not siding with his own party on major platforms such as Peace FM, where he has become a regular panellist.

Misaligned?

Last week, the party withdrew from all political discussions on Peace FM, mainly because of Allotey Jacobs’s fixed presence as a “social commentator” aligned to the NDC.

The NDC has also complained about what it describes as the dictatorial tendencies of Kwame Sefa Kayi, host of the station’s flagship politics show, Kokrokoo.

Despite the suspension of Allotey Jacobs over what the party describes as his “consistent anti-party conduct”, media show hosts continue to treat him as a representative of the NDC.

Sefa Kayi described him as a core contributor to Kokrokoo and refused to stop inviting him on to the programme after the suspension.

Charles Credence

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