Awal Mohammed, prior to his defection Wednesday, was the deputy National Communications Officer for Zongo Caucus, an official wing of NDC in the Zongo communities, and also a senior member of NDC communications team in Ashanti Region.
Even though the announcement of his defection to the NPP has been received with 'cautious excitement' by the party’s faithful, many believe Awal's surprised move clearly explains that the Mahama-led party is experiencing its worst popularity decline in the Ashanti region.
In a statement to announce his decision, the former NDC communicator categorically asserted: "In all humility and sincerity I, Awal Mohammed, a senior member of NDC communications team in Ashanti Region wish to state that I have on this day October 5th 2016 defected to the New Patriotic Party."
He further stated that his decision to join the NPP "is wholly based on principles and convictions."
According to the former NDC communicator, he took the final decision to join the opposition party after the NPP flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, addressed a Nasara conference in the Asawasi constituency in Ashanti Region on February 30, 2016, where he promised to introduce a Zongo Development Fund.
Though he had earlier on at a counter press conference organised by the Zongo caucus rubbished and bastardized the policy and further promised the Zongo people of 'better' policies from the ruling government, he was shocked to realised that the NDC had no intention to better the lots of his compatriots based on their recently launched manifesto.
"The NDC launched its manifesto some few weeks ago. I read through the 88 paged document and to my uttermost dismay, there is no mention of a single policy dedicated to Zongo. As a Zongo boy I felt we have been given a raw deal," Awal further explained.
He added: "Again, as a young man I believe that NDC as a party has failed in curbing the massive unemployment which has resulted in unprecedented hardship, job losses are on the rise and our economy is in disarray. This coupled with many problems affecting our dear nation caused my defection.”
To him, the nation at this crucial point needs a new direction, new leadership and new plans, "therefore, I believe Ghana needs a leader in the person of Nana Addo to give the nation a better leadership."
The former NDC man entreated all to vote massively for Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP in the 2016 elections.
Meanwhile, some regional communicators of the NDC have chastised party executives for the sad development, explaining that the seeming neglect of communicators as well as the bad conditions under which they operate is enough motivating factor for Awal's resignation.
"But then, this occurrence, as unfortunate as it may be, brings into sharp focus the plight of NDC communicators in a hostile political environment such as the Ashanti region. It got to a point that Awal Mohammed was doing 10 radio stations a week on the average at his own expense but has been unemployed for four years," Abass Nurudeen, senior member of the Ashanti regional communication team of the NDC, stated.
He continued: "So how did anyone expect a married man with two kids like Awal to survive? If the ruling party cannot take proper care of its working foot soldiers, what on earth will be the motivation to keep dying for it? But then, all this is as a result of leadership paralysis on the communication from in the Ashanti region."