Baba Jamal Cursed At NDC Congress

The political career of deputy Eastern Regional Minister Ahmed Baba Jamal looks bleak after he was subjected to open curses by delegates and supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Tamale. Mr. Jamal, on an Accra based radio station claimed all delegates, observers and the media were accredited in accordance with preparations for the 8th National Delegates Congress, a claim which was in direct contrast with the situation on the ground. Stranded delegates, who for fear of being disenfranchised as they had not received their accreditations, stormed the party�s headquarters but were turned away. The Daily Guide newspaper was informed the deputy Minister, who is also the party�s deputy general secretary, was mainly responsible for accreditations but hours to the start of the event, delegates and party bigwigs including Members of Parliament (MPs) were yet to receive theirs. Eventually, the MPs had to rush into the computer room to print out any available accreditation to enable them enter the main auditorium where the event was being held. Some supporters, however, in their request to have their concerns addressed to enable them gain entry into the main congress grounds which was guarded by heavy security, were unruly turned away by Mr. Jamal. The infuriated delegates cursed him, saying he was not going to win any election in the country based on his conduct towards party men and women. One of the angry NDC men was quoted as saying, �That is why you are a serial loser and you would continue to lose�. They were apparently referring to his inability to win the Akwatia Constituency on three consecutive occasions, particularly the last devastating defeat he suffered in the hands of the NPP candidate, Dr. Kofi Asare. Another said he would not forgive Mr. Jamal until he departed from this world, walking out of the premises and fuming over his conduct. Journalists suffered the same fate as the delegates, spending much of the productive hours of the day trying to secure accreditations which were not forth-coming until the issue attracted the attention of some national executives. In the wake of the rush for the accreditations and the confusion that followed, the defeated former NDC parliamentary candidate looked the least perturbed and walked in and out of his office, shunning calls from the stranded party supporters. Mr. Ahmed Baba Jamal, it would be recalled, stirred up several controversies prior to the rerun of the general elections in six polling stations at Akwatia constituency in the Eastern Region. He was reported to have declared what he termed �Jihad�, in the face of criticisms from members of his party that he was not going to win the seat, irrespective of the tactics he employed. This earned him the name �Jihad Man� which has since made him unpopular to some party faithful who at the weekend congress vented their spleen and rained curses on him. Meanwhile, about 3,000 delegates attended the 8th edition of the National Delegates� Congress of the party which has been described as the best since the formation of the NDC. Security was adequately provided with over five checkpoints to prevent persons from entering the West African Examination Council (WAEC) hall with weapons or any other life threatening object. In all, about nine positions were contested by 65 aspirants including former 1st Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, Dr. Ekwo Spio-Garbrah, Asiedu-Nketia, the incumbent general secretary and Dr. Kwabena Adjei, the incumbent national chairman. Both the incumbent chairman and the general secretary retained their positions by an overwhelming vote margin.