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From Emmanuel ADU GYAMFI
The Founder of the Diaspora Progressive Movement (DPM), in the United States of America (USA), Dr Lawrence Appiah – Osei, has urged the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to bring back defunct voluntary groups.
According to him, the NDC has banned all volunteer groups for the party and instructed all its members to follow the party’s structure in everything they do saying “the only affiliated group that I know is The Professional Forum”.
Dr Appiah – Osei stated that though the NDC banned all other affiliated groups for good reasons, a lot have changed on the political ground, and that the party should consider bringing back the volunteer groups to support the work of the party structures.
“Before I make my argument for consideration, I want the party to know that the party structure is not functioning well in some countries and towns. The structures don’t even exist in some countries and towns” he bemoaned.
The Founder of DPM indicated that he is raising this issue up again because the party now has a new National Chairman, General Secretary, and a National Organizer. Also, corruption, neglect for the rule of law, and scandals have so far overwhelmed the party structures.
He stated these on Saturday in an interview with Journalists on the build – up to the party’s victory ahead of the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.
Dr Appiah – Osei stressed that If the NDC must win the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections with the spirit of communal labour, then my appeal should receive the needed consideration for all hands to be on board.
” I do not see the contributions of the affiliated groups to complement the party structures because of the ban. There were bye – elections in Kumawu and Assin North constituencies, and everything was about the party structures” he said.
The Founder said the party had good results in Assin North bye – elections because part of the NDC Parliamentary caucus, and Movie Icons supported the party leadership adding “Wouldn’t it had been the best if we had Fine Ladies for Gyakye Quayson there too?”.
He expressed gratitude to Dr Salifu of Professional Forum in the USA and a member of the NDC New York Branch, for his love and commitment to support the activities of the party noting that this should be the role of the affiliated groups.
Dr Appiah – Osei said the ban on volunteer groups by the NDC has forced people to create hundreds of WhatsApp platforms so they can discuss politics and be part of the system. One of such groups on WhatsApp is Diplomatic Platform.
“I am on diplomatic platform, a WhatsApp group of the NDC and one of the administrators, Julius Logass, led us to raise over GHC 35,000, which was used to print 1,000 T – Shirts for Assin North bye – election”
“Mr Bernard Oduro Takyi (BOT) single-handedly donated GHC 20,000 towards the Assin North elections. No party structure whipped him to do so” the Founder of DPM disclosed.
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He suggested that all such volunteer groups shall register with either the National or the Youth Organizers, and pay a registration fee of something like GHC 2,000, $ 200, € 200 or £200 depending on the country of registration.
Dr Appiah – Osei said the group should state in their bye-laws that they are affiliated with NDC, and will work under the directive and principles of the party. The NDC can add to the group’s bye-laws to make them effective and regulated.
The Founder of DPM emphasized that if the party banned the volunteer groups because they could not regulate their activities, then we can not also regulate the activities of the Okada business if we come to power in 2025 adding “The world has changed, and we should also change too”.
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