Accra:Growing disquiet has emerged among some youth members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) following the disqualification of Ayembilla Inusah Hamza, a former Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN) executive, from contesting for Deputy Ashanti Regional Youth Organiser.
According to Ghana Web, the disqualification has raised questions about the relevance of leadership experience within TEIN, the party's student wing, in determining eligibility for positions in the NDC's mainstream structures. Hamza, who served as vice president of TEIN at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), was reportedly disqualified for not holding a position at the party's branch level.
This decision has prompted appeals from young party members who argue that TEIN provides a recognised platform for grooming future NDC leaders. They have called on the party's leadership to review the decision and clarify how TEIN experience aligns with constitutional requirements for regional and national executive roles.
Supporters have expressed concerns through statements and social media, questioning whether the same criteria will be consistently applied to other aspirants seeking national executive positions. An appeal has been made to National Youth Organiser and Youth Development Minister George Opare Addo to ensure a thorough and impartial review of Hamza's case. Appeals have also been made to President John Dramani Mahama and NDC National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah to consider the contributions of young members who have been active in student structures.
The appeal emphasizes fairness and consistency in interpreting party rules, rather than seeking special treatment. An outgoing TEIN president from the NMTC-Keta Chapter has also called for a reconsideration of Hamza's eligibility, citing the example of former TEIN-KNUST president Sammy Gyamfi, who went on to become the NDC's National Communications Officer.
There is concern that the party may discourage young people if service through TEIN is not duly considered when seeking positions in regional and national structures. The debate has also drawn parallels with the case of Queen Hiba, who was nearly disqualified for a similar position in the Savannah Region but was eventually allowed to contest.
Supporters are seeking clarification on whether the circumstances of Hamza's and Hiba's cases differed, but the concerns remain as appeals for clarification rather than evidence of constitutional breaches by the vetting committee. The chairman of the vetting committee, Yaw Boateng Gyan, indicated that disqualified aspirants could petition for a review in the ongoing Ashanti Regional executive election process.
The NDC is gearing up to elect new Ashanti Regional executives on 16 November, as part of its internal reorganization ahead of the 2028 general elections.