By Nadia Ntiamoah
A storm is brewing within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Assin North constituency, as a group of disgruntled party youth have launched scathing accusations against their Member of Parliament, James Gyakye Quayson, over what they allege is a pattern of political favouritism and exclusion.
At a press conference on Wednesday, May 14, the group, calling itself the “Concerned NDC Youth of Assin North,” warned the MP against what they described as divisive appointment practices and high-handed political maneuvering.
According to the youth, Quayson—together with the constituency chairman, Felix Benefo—is undermining party unity by sidelining grassroots members in favour of his inner circle.
A spokesperson for the group, Rankling Otoo, cited the recent removal of Christian Ankomahe Amoah, a deputy constituency youth organizer, from his position as the Youth Employment Director.
Otoo alleged that the dismissal was orchestrated to make way for a close associate of the MP, a move they believe was both unjustified and harmful to party cohesion.
“We will not sit back and allow the MP and the chairman to use the power we all fought for to intimidate us,” Otoo declared.
“These attempts to sideline hardworking party members will be resisted.”
The youth also took issue with what they described as manipulation in the selection process for the District Chief Executive (DCE) appointment.
According to the group, the MP and the chairman are allegedly pushing for their preferred candidate, disregarding the regional vetting committee’s shortlist of three nominees.
This, they argue, is contrary to the principles of fairness and internal democracy that the NDC is supposed to uphold.
This growing rift comes barely a year after James Gyakye Quayson’s dramatic return to Parliament following a by-election victory in June 2023.
His election followed a protracted legal battle over his dual citizenship status, which culminated in the Supreme Court annulling his 2020 election.
His re-election was seen as a major victory for the NDC and a personal vindication, bolstering his influence within the party’s Central Regional bloc.
However, that popularity now appears to be under threat from within, as local youth activists accuse him of betraying the grassroots support that helped secure his political comeback.
The group has since called on the national leadership of the NDC to intervene and restore harmony in the Assin North constituency before the situation escalates further.
