Tension and controversy have reportedly emerged within the Mfantseman Constituency branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) following allegations that the Constituency Communications Officer, Mr John Bambir, removed an aspiring communicator from the constituency’s official WhatsApp platform after he expressed interest in contesting the communications position.
According to information available to News Africa Ghana, the development follows an alleged message posted by Mr Bambir on the Mfantseman Communications WhatsApp group, in which he reportedly urged Mr Justice Enoch Kojo Appiah to reconsider his decision to contest the upcoming constituency communications election if his intention was to challenge the incumbent for a second term.
The alleged message is said to have triggered considerable discussion among members of the communications team, with some members reportedly questioning the circumstances surrounding the appeal and its implications for the impending internal contest.
The issue reportedly escalated when Mr Appiah was subsequently removed from the WhatsApp group, which is understood to serve as an important platform for communication and coordination among members of the constituency’s communications team.
Sources familiar with the development allege that Mr Bambir, who is said to be one of the administrators of the platform, justified the removal on the grounds that Mr Appiah had failed to retract or apologise for comments he (John Bambir) had allegedly made on the Mfantseman Communications Bureau platform.
The reported decision has since generated mixed reactions among some party members, with critics questioning whether the removal was appropriate, particularly at a time when an internal contest for the communications position is expected.
Some members reportedly view the development as potentially problematic because official party communication platforms are expected to provide equal access to members and prospective candidates, especially during periods leading up to internal elections.
Critics further argue that removing an aspiring candidate from a platform used for constituency communications could raise concerns about fairness, transparency and the neutrality of party structures ahead of the election.
However, it remains unclear whether the removal was directly linked to Mr Appiah’s decision to contest the position or was solely based on the alleged comments and the failure to retract or apologise for them.
The matter comes at a time when political parties, particularly at the constituency level, are preparing for various internal activities and leadership contests, making adherence to the principles of internal democracy and fair participation increasingly important.
News Africa Ghana understands that discussions surrounding the incident are continuing among members of the constituency communications team, with some calling for the matter to be resolved internally to prevent it from escalating into a broader party dispute.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Mr John Bambir nor Mr Justice Enoch Kojo Appiah had publicly responded to the allegations or provided their respective accounts of what transpired.
News Africa Ghana will continue to follow the development and update the public as further information and responses become available.
Attached are the alleged screenshots from the WhatsApp group, which are said to capture the messages and exchanges surrounding the controversy
