Division within NDC Leadership in Greater Accra Over Directive to Submit Nominees for Government Appointments

The Greater Accra Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is currently embroiled in internal controversy over a directive issued by the Regional Secretary, Theophilus Tetteh Chaie. The directive, which instructed all NDC constituency chairpersons to submit nominees for national-level appointments in the incoming John Dramani Mahama-led government, has sparked a division within the party’s leadership.
The letter, which was dated December 24, 2024, directed constituency chairpersons to compile lists of candidates for key positions, including ministerial, deputy ministerial, ambassadorial, and other high-ranking roles in the new administration. The letter set a deadline for submitting the names and relevant details of qualified candidates, including their preferred areas of appointment, by December 30, 2024.
However, this directive has caused significant tension within the Greater Accra regional leadership. Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman, issued a press statement on December 25, 2024, distancing himself from the instruction and clarifying that the directive was not approved by the regional executive committee. He emphasized that the Regional Secretary acted unilaterally and without proper consultation with the party’s structures.
Mr. Ashie Moore expressed that he was unaware of the directive and noted that no regional meetings had taken place to discuss such a decision. He criticized the lack of consultation with the broader leadership of the party and described the Regional Secretary’s action as a personal decision, rather than a collective one. He urged party members to disregard the letter, stating, “This is indeed a sole decision of the Regional Secretary without any recourse to laid-down party structures.”
While Theophilus Tetteh Chaie has not yet publicly responded to the controversy surrounding the leaked letter, there is speculation that the document may have been unintentionally leaked to the media. The Regional Chairman’s press statement did not directly question the authenticity of the letter, but instead focused on clarifying that the decision was not a result of the regional leadership’s collective input.
The controversy is particularly sensitive due to the nature of the appointments involved. The process of selecting individuals for key positions in the new administration is crucial to the success of the Mahama-led government, and the disagreement over how these appointments should be handled has caused significant internal friction. Furthermore, the directive’s timing—coming just days before the transition to a new administration—has heightened the tension within the party.
In his statement, Mr. Ashie Moore also emphasized the ongoing focus of the President-elect’s transition team, which is working on implementing Mahama’s key policy priorities during the first 120 days of his administration. This includes ensuring a smooth transition process ahead of Mahama’s swearing-in ceremony scheduled for January 7, 2025. The transition team’s efforts, according to the Regional Chairman, should take priority over the internal disagreements within the party regarding the submission of nominees.
The dispute between the Greater Accra regional leadership and the Regional Secretary reflects broader tensions within the NDC as the party prepares for a new government under President-elect John Dramani Mahama. The issue also underscores the importance of internal party unity and effective communication, particularly when it comes to significant decisions like appointments to top government positions.
This situation has brought to the forefront the challenge of managing party affairs and decision-making processes, especially when such decisions could have far-reaching implications for the party’s reputation and success in the upcoming administration. The ongoing disagreement is likely to have an impact on the party’s cohesion as it enters a new phase under Mahama’s leadership, and it remains to be seen how the leadership will resolve these issues in the coming days.
Read below the attached copies of the letters: