NDC Threatens Legal Suit Against TEIN

The Greater Accra Regional Youth branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has threatened to take legal action to halt the activities of the so-called Greater Accra Regional branch of the Tertiary Education Institution Network of the NDC (GAR-TEIN). Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Greater Accra Regional Youth Organiser of the party, Mr Thomas Nii Ashong said the legal move had become necessary due to the inability of the National Executive of the NDC to halt the nefarious activities of the illegal group whose existence was not recognised by the party structure and constitution. He explained that although there was nothing like Regional TEIN in the scheme of things in the constitution and structure of the party, some persons have assumed those positions just to "muddy the waters and direct attention to themselves and their disruptive activities". According to Mr Ashong, the group was dragging the name of the party in the mud with the support of some national executive members. Recently, the group calling itself GARTEIN organised a workshop which was attended by Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings and Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, both Vice Chairpersons of the NDC. Dr Spio-Garbrah was alleged to have castigated President Mills and leading members of the NDC in government for not ensuring that Former, President Rawlings was secured a befitting place of abode after his ridge residence was razed down by fire on February 14, 2010. Mr Ashong said the NDC constitution recognised only the foreign, women and youth branches, as well as the parliamentary group as the main groupings and that the TEIN was a part of the youth group. He explained that TEIN was for NDC members and supporters in tertiary institutions in the country and that there was no such body as regional TEIN. "What we have is TIEN co-ordinators who liaise with the youth organisers and the various campuses." Mr Ashong noted that members and supporters in tertiary institutions were expected to integrate into their various constituencies after completing their courses and leaving school; but not to form regional groupings of TEIN. "It is not possible for anyone who had completed school and more so working to be a member of TEIN. Again, whether it is true or otherwise that such illegal Regional group was inaugurated, it was contrary to the letter and spirit of the NDC constitution," he said. This was in reaction to claims, by the Regional TEIN that their organisation was duly inaugurated by leading members of the party. Mr Ashong explained that the existence of such illegitimate group was also a duplication of the regional youth of the party and that the earlier they saw it wise to put a halt to their "disgraceful and deleterious manoeuvres that hinder the unity and progress of the NDC and the Mills Administration, the better".