The head of former Finance Minister Dr. Kwabena Duffuor’s security detail, Mr. James Agbey, who is also aspiring to be the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has expressed his opposition to former President John Dramani Mahama’s participation in the upcoming presidential primaries of the party scheduled for May 13. He highlighted that this election is different from the one held in 2018, where other candidates allowed Mahama to have his way.
In a press statement, Agbey criticized the lack of a complete photo album for the elections, stating that it goes against the party’s rules of engagement. He perceived this as the first step in a series of campaigns aimed at destabilizing the NDC by Mahama’s faction for their own selfish agenda. Agbey, who served the party in the Greater Accra Region and is currently responsible for Dr. Duffuor’s security, expressed his frustration with the NDC prioritizing the interests of one individual over the collective good of the party.
Agbey further criticized Mahama for disregarding the rules of engagement and emphasized the importance of accountability within the party. He questioned the NDC’s ability to accuse the Electoral Commission (EC) of electoral malfeasance if they themselves are engaging in questionable practices. Agbey believed that Mahama’s actions were an attempt to divert attention from his failures and misconduct.
Agbey issued a warning that he and his team are prepared to use legitimate force and all means necessary to remove Mahama from the way and restore dignity and respect to the NDC. He emphasized that this election is different from the previous one in 2018, where other candidates allowed Mahama to have an advantage.
Agbey concluded by stating that they are on a rescue mission to save the party from Mahama’s influence and appropriation. He expressed his hope that those who understand the situation will take action and emphasized their readiness to confront Mahama’s tactics.
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Here is his full Statement;
For Immediate Release
Wednesday 10th May 2023
We’re ready to use legitimate force to deal with Mahama if need be.
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I, James Agbey, head of the Security Detail of Duffuor 2024 campaign wishes to state unequivocally that the NDC belongs to all of us and we won’t sit down for Mahama to take us on a jolly ride. In fact, I do take issue with the manner the Mahama camp is conniving with the Functional Executive Committee(FEC) of the NDC to disenfranchise a good number of delegates, and to rig the processess leading up to the forthcoming 13th May presidential primaries for Mahama. The whole charade regarding the non availability of a complete photo album for the elections is completely against the party’s rules of engagement. Indeed, it is extremely dubious, criminal and illegal for the processes leading to the entire election to be hijacked by Mahama. This display of utter greed by Mahama to win at all cost reeked of poor judgement and a complete lack of respect for the responsibility he holds as a leader. In my eyes this is just the first shot in a series of campaign to destabilise the NDC by the Mahama faction for their selfish and parochial agenda.
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As one of those who served the party in the Greater Accra Region as Director of Security operations in 2020, and currently in charge of Dr Duffuor’s Security detail, this development made me very upset. It is upsetting to see the NDC swimming in the gutters to please one man at the expense of our collective good. As a matter of fact, Mahama’s resolute insistence to not follow the rules of engagement regarding this elections shows a fundamental disdain for the concept of accountability. If the NDC as a political organisation can do this to ourselves in our intra-party elections, what do we expect from the Electoral Commission(EC) in the run up to 2024 elections? Can the NDC accuse the EC of electoral malfeasance and corruptible conduct when the party is trapped in the same scheme in its own backyard all in an attempt to give Mahama an undue advantage over other candidates? What is the point of intra-party politics and leadership if they can’t even publicly correct the record when they are wrong? This obviously is more likely strong evidence that Mahama and his supporters continue to muddy the waters or to put it more plainly deflect attention from their failures and misdemeanours.
Allowing them to continue with this charade and the choreographed shenanigan is utterly abhorrent. At this juncture, let me sound a note of caution to all concerned, and warn that we’re ready to use legitimate force and every means under the sun to get Mahama out of the way and restore dignity and respect to the NDC. This election is totally different from the 2018 one, where Prof Joshua Alabi and Goosie Tanoh allowed Mahama to have his way. We are on a rescue mission to rescue the party from the claws of Mahama. Those of us on the Duffuor team are ready for Mahama and his diabolics. We are ready to bring an end to this opportunistic appropriation. I just wish the people who know better would sit up. But perhaps that cannot happen until we send out a strong signals to them that we are ever ready to beat them to their own game. We can’t continue to suffer characters like the former President who’s hoping to stay relevant by being a perpetual flagbearer.
Signed:
James Agbey
NDC Operative and Head of Dr Duffuor’s Security detail
