A National Democratic Congress activist in the Ho Central constituency whose house was burnt down in the 2008 elections is accusing the party leadership of neglect. According to Alhaji Bello, he and many other footsoldiers of the party have been turned into beggars and have to depend on ‘hand-outs’ from some party leaders to survive. Bello in an interview with Joy News’ Dzifa Bampoh claims his house was burnt down by some miscreants when he refused to join the band-wagon of some aggrieved NDC supporters who defected to the Democratic Freedom Party. Despite his sacrifice and passion for the party, Alhaji Bello insists the party leadership has failed to appreciate his efforts not to talk about compensating him for his losses. He said several efforts to get the support of government and party officials have been to no avail. Alhaji Bello, a coat supplier, said he is now in debt because 12 pieces of coat in his possession to be supplied to a company was burnt in the fire. “Now they have made the footsoldiers look like beggars; they go round to beg for money,” he lamented. He was full of praise for Kofi Wayo and Deputy Local Government Minister Elvis Afriyie Ankrah who he said have been supportive. In a response the Deputy General Secretary of the NDC Kofi Adams said the party is helping as much as possible members of the NDC and Ghanaians in general. He advised Alhaji Bello to report the case to the police and so the party leadership will follow it up from there. In the meantime Mr Adams said a Hero’s fund has been set up by the party to assist some of the party members whose selflessness and hard work brought the party back into power. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyoyonline.com/Ghana