Tensions are running high within the opposition National Democratic Congress in the Greater Accra Region over the behavior of its regional chairman, Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore.
On Tuesday, July 16, 2024, the situation reached a new high point when a group of women constituency organizers in the party filed a petition with the National Executive Council (NEC) citing Emmanuel’s relentless chauvinistic and bigoted behavior by Ashie Moore.
The petition, signed by more than 40 women constituency organizers in the Greater Accra Region and filed on Tuesday, alleges that Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore has displayed male aggression towards some leading women in the party and threatened to inflict physical harm on them. The petitioners cited three instances where they claim Nii Asiye Moore has displayed sexist tendencies by verbally abusing women in the party.
“Apart from other alleged misconduct by the state chairman since assuming his presidency, some of which have been reported in the media, he has repeatedly demonstrated misogynistic tendencies.
According to the petitioners, the Regional Chairman, in full view of the entire audience, threatened to inflict bodily harm on key women in leadership positions in the party and hurled vulgar insults at them, thereby exposing them to public ridicule.
“During the 2022 party convention, the Regional Chairman called the Deputy Regional Secretary, Mrs. Patricia Akuyea Addy, an “Ashawo” (meaning “whore”) and attempted to attack her. This apparently happened because she questioned why the Regional Chairman wanted to take away the accreditation cards of party delegates and usurp the powers of the Regional Secretary. Despite calls for him to retract the derogatory remark and apologize, he persisted and was not punished.
“Apparently encouraged by the fact that no one called him out for orders, he repeated the same in the presence of some members of the National Executive and other senior members of the party while submitting nomination forms at the party headquarters for the party flag-bearer. For no apparent reason, Mr. Asiye Moore became enraged and stormed out at the headquarters. He chased Mrs. Obobia Darko Opoku and tried to attack her.
“Some of us witnessed this insane attack where he shouted, called them incomprehensible names and referred to them as ‘Ashawo’. Ms. Obobia is the Deputy National Publicity Director of the party and is currently a member of the NDC 2024 campaign,” the statement said.
The latest act of harassment and verbal violence that has forced over 40 women organizers to petition the Accra Metropolitan Executive and the NEC is the alleged insult and threat of attack by Emmanuel Nii against a Regional Women Organizer, Ms. Felicia Melukpoi Boti, who is also an Asiye Moore.
“He continued his aggressive and misogynistic tendencies by insulting and threatening to beat up the Regional Women Organiser, Mrs. Felicia Melukpoi-Boltey, during a meeting of the Greater Accra Regional Executive Committee held at the Regional Office on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. Typical of Mr. Ashie Moore, he once again called her an ‘ashawo’.”
The group noted the urgency of the situation, explaining that with the Greater Accra Region holding a key and strategic role in the 2024 election, it is imperative that the NEC make efforts to whip Emmanuel Ashie Moore in line and ensure that the women’s wing of the party executes their duties with utmost confidence to help bring the party back to power.
“We deem it necessary to object strongly to the conduct of the Regional Chairman and to place this objection on record. It is highly inappropriate for Mr. Ashie Moore to continue denigrating women in the party and, as women organisers leading the women’s wings of our various constituencies, we are extremely worried that if steps are not taken to get him to put a stop to this behaviour, we may also suffer similar fates.
“It is absolutely unacceptable for a Regional Chairman to wear this dishonourable badge of misogynism in a critical region like Greater Accra. Even though he may have a record as an ‘abuser of women’, once he has assumed the role of Regional Chairman, his conduct must reflect the ethics of that noble office. With this in mind, we urge your organisation to call the Regional Chairman immediately to place your order.
“While some of us have begun to lose hope in our organisation that the Regional Chairman’s despicable behaviour should be addressed, we have been reaching out to various offices and stakeholders in the hope that at least one of them will address these issues. He always cheats but still roams around cocky and arrogant looking for his next prey. A Regional Chairman cannot be untouchable in a political party that touts its democratic credentials,” the statement said.
The organisers’ request comes at a crucial time as the party gears up for the 2024 general elections. The Accra metropolitan area, Ghana’s most populous region, is expected to be one of the key areas in this year’s presidential election.
Read the full petition below:
