The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has suspended its Central Regional Chairman, following controversy surrounding the withdrawal of the party's parliamentary candidate for Assin Central.

The decision made by the Functional Executive Committee (FEC) after a meeting on Tuesday, 2 July 2024 was announced in a statement issued and signed by the NDC General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey.

The suspension, which is effective immediately, follows the purported withdrawal of Mr. Nurein Shaibu Mijima, the NDC’s 2024 parliamentary candidate for Assin Central.

The FEC determined that the withdrawal was conducted unlawfully and without proper authority.

In a detailed statement, the FEC outlined the reasons for the suspension noting: “The purported withdrawal of the Assin Central Parliamentary Candidate is unlawful as neither you nor the supposed ‘Regional Functional Executive Committee’ has the locus or power or authority to withdraw a serving Parliamentary Candidate of the party from a national election.

“The reasons which underpinned the purported withdrawal of the Assin Central Parliamentary Candidate are totally false and without any basis whatsoever.”

It continued that: “You played a lead role in the purported withdrawal of the Assin Central Parliamentary Candidate in clear violation of express directives given to you by the General Secretary and the National Chairman of the party.

“By publicly announcing your purported withdrawal of the Assin Central Parliamentary Candidate knowing very well that same was without any legal or reasonable justification, you have engaged in clear anti-party behaviour and brought the name of the party into disrepute.”

The FEC further noted that the chairman's actions constituted a clear violation of party directives and constituted anti-party behaviour.

This decision comes in light of previous instances of defiance against the national leadership’s directives.

The suspended chairman has been directed to hand over any party property in his custody to the regional Vice Chairman, Ekow Okyere Panyin Eduamoah, and to cease presenting himself as the Central Regional Chairman of the NDC.