Some irate youth of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Assin South of the Central Region have threatened to boycott all party activities, including the upcoming branch and constituency elections, if the party’s 2024 Parliamentary Candidate, Hon. Stephen Kofi Baidoo, is not appointed to serve in government.
The aggrieved youth say Hon. Baidoo deserves recognition for what they describe as his exceptional performance during the 2024 general elections and his sacrifices towards strengthening the fortunes of the NDC in the constituency.
According to them, the parliamentary candidate delivered one of the most impressive electoral performances in the history of Assin South by recording a remarkable 14.4 percent swing in the parliamentary election and an unprecedented 27 percent swing in the presidential votes in favour of the NDC.
They argued that the feat represented the highest voter shift from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to the NDC across the entire Central Region during the elections, significantly reducing the NPP’s dominance in the constituency and almost unseating the incumbent Member of Parliament, Hon. John Ntim Fordjour.
Speaking to the media, some of the aggrieved youth expressed disappointment over what they described as the party’s failure to reward dedication and hard work.
They maintained that despite operating with limited resources and allegedly receiving inadequate support from some constituency executives during the campaign period, Hon. Stephen Kofi Baidoo remained committed and worked tirelessly with grassroots supporters to improve the electoral fortunes of the NDC in Assin South.
According to them, his relentless door-to-door campaign strategy, close engagement with voters and dedication to the grassroots largely accounted for the massive increase in both parliamentary and presidential votes for the party.
The youth further questioned why Hon. Baidoo has remained without any government appointment despite the NDC having been in office for nearly two years, while several parliamentary candidates who performed less impressively have already been appointed to various positions.
They warned that continued neglect of their concerns could lead to a massive boycott of all party activities, including the impending branch and constituency elections.
According to them, such growing dissatisfaction among party supporters could negatively affect the NDC’s chances in the 2028 general elections if urgent steps are not taken to address the matter.
Responding to the concerns raised by the youth, Hon. Stephen Kofi Baidoo appealed for calm and urged supporters to avoid actions that could undermine the unity and stability of the party.
He admitted that although he is disappointed by the delay in receiving a government appointment, he is not the only parliamentary candidate yet to be considered for a position.
Hon. Baidoo acknowledged the frustrations of his supporters but appealed to them to remain patient and continue supporting the NDC and the government.
He noted that although the lack of an appointment could affect the morale of party supporters within the constituency, the broader interest and unity of the party must remain paramount.
The former parliamentary candidate also expressed concern about what he described as the slow pace of development in Assin South under the leadership of the incumbent NPP Member of Parliament.
He pledged to continue working closely with the people of the constituency and vowed to wrest the parliamentary seat from the NPP in the 2028 general elections.
Hon. Stephen Kofi Baidoo further called on party executives, branch officers and supporters to remain united, committed and focused on strengthening the NDC ahead of future political contests.
He also commended President John Dramani Mahama, the Central Regional Minister and the Central Regional Chairman of the NDC for their commitment towards the development of the Central Region.
According to him, he remains committed to supporting the government’s development agenda and contributing to the progress of Assin South and the Central Region as a whole.
Story by Yaw Boagyan
