The Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has chastised a group that has declared its support for the former Trades Minister to lead the party in 2020 Presidential polls.

Joseph Ade Coker said he does not know the group which has described itself as branch executives of the NDC in the Greater Accra Region and is purporting to support Dr. Spio Garbrah for flagbearer in 2020.

Referencing the General Secretary of the party, Mr Coker said the party permits individuals to declare their support for a preferred candidate but prohibits groups from doing so.

“I’m at a loss where they are coming from. This frowns on the directives that the General Secretary made at the beginning…we will call them and find out under what authority they did this” he said.

 Spio Garbrah 

Admonishing the beneficiary of the support, Ade Coker said Dr Ekow Spio Garbrah should disassociate himself from the group because they are flouting laid down rules.

“I will call on Spio to disassociate himself from this statement. I know he believes in the party structures…” Mr Coker told Kojo Yankson on the AM Show on the Joy News channel on Multi TV Thursday.

Ade Coker argued that the problem with various groups coming to declare support for a preferred candidate is that after the flagbearer elections, the losing side is left feeling disgruntled and that affects the party’s chances in 2020.

He also revealed that the party has taken measures to bring the group declaring support for Dr Spio to order.  

Related: Spio-Garbrah unveils ‘Forward Agenda’ to lead NDC’s 2020 presidential bid

The former Trades Minister first contested the Party’s flagbearership in 2006 and was one of the two front runners against the late John Evans Atta Mills.

The late Professor however won that contest with an overwhelming margin and led the party to capture power in 2008.

Spio-Garbrah has made a fresh push to lead the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to recapture power in the 2020 elections after he unveiled the ‘Forward Agenda’ in January, 2018.

The Forward Agenda is Spio-Garbrah’s grand plan to win the NDC flagbearership and subsequently the Presidency race in the next elections.

At a media encounter in January to unveil his Presidential ambitions for the second time, he said Agenda will carry the message of sacrifice and commitment to developing Ghana.

The NDC will go to polls on December 7 2018 to elect its Flagbearer for the 2020 elections. Former President John Mahama--who led the party to an abysmal loss in 2016--has been touted as favourite to win.