Two contests at the just ended National Delegates Congress of the NDC were considered by many to be the most hotly contested, and considering the positions at stake, who would be wrong to see such high profile dignitaries in those races.
Prior to the elections over the weekend, the prediction of who was to win the National Chairman race was still a difficult one with personalities such as Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and Dan Abodakpi all tipped for victory by various delegates in the party. In the end though, it was 56-year-old Samuel Ofosu Ampofo who managed to beat the contenders to secure victory as the Party’s Chairman and leader ahead of the 2020 general elections.
Mr. Ampofo polled 3,656 votes as against 2,199 by Dan Abodakpi and a mere 309 by lawyer Danny Annang.
The race for the General Secretary position was equally tough and unpredictable in the beginning but soon after sorting of the ballot papers was done it was clear who the obvious winner was. The ‘shrewd operator’ as some choose to call Johnson Asiedu Nketiah cruised to victory by beating Koku ‘the bull’ Anyidoho for the position of General Secretary. He polled 6,642 votes as against Koku Anyidoho’s 1,625 votes.
Joshua Akamba’s popularity on radio appears to have helped endear him to the delegates of the NDC as he beat competition from Anita De-Sosoo, Baba Jamal and Yaw Boateng Gyan for the position of National Organiser. He won by 3,084 votes.
Sammy Gyamfi also tucked in a rather comfortable victory by beating incumbent Fred Agbenyo for the position of National Communications Officer of the party. He won with 6,225 votes while Fred Agbenyo only managed a paltry 2,225.
Here is a full list of winners and losers at the just ended NDC National Delegates Congress
NATIONAL CHAIRMAN
Dan Abodakpi 2,199
Betty Mould-Iddrisu 358
Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo 3,656
Alhaji Huudu Yahaya 1,823
Danny Annang 309
GENERAL SECRETARY
Johnson Asiedu Nketiah 6,642
Samuel Koku Sitsofo Anyidoho 1,625
NATIONAL ORGANIZER
Mahdi Gibrill 599
Akamba Joshua Hamidu 3,084
Jemima Anita De-Sosoo 300
Yaw Boateng Gyan 1,843
Baba Jamal Ahmed 2,107
Enoch Amoako- Nsiah 74
Solomon Yaw Nkansah 306
NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Fred Agbenyo 2,225
Sammy Gyamfi 6,225
NATIONAL ZONGO CAUCUS COORDINATOR
Ismail Bawa 1,132
Sadiku Sulley 785
Abdul-Aziz Mohammmed 1,321
Abass Fuseini Sbaabe 1,011
NATIONAL DEPUTY ORGANISER
Dr Alhassan Hanifa 1,386
Kobby Barlon 2,619
Vivian Abla Kpeglo 610
Mohammed Mamudu 347
Agbesi Nutsu 332
Chief Hamilton Biney Nixon 2,405
Alfred Kojo Triddles 89
Ebenezer Asare Sackitey 163
Ahmed Gedel 329
DEPUTY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Godwin Ako Gunn 1816
Mahama Seidu Samuel 573
Kwaku Boahen 2,851
Alhaji Mohammed Nasiru Seidu 1,537
Adongo Atule Jacob 978
Muhammed Nurullah Iddrisu 472
Background
Voting lasted for almost 24 hours at the 9th National Delegates Congress of the NDC.
Issues of spoilt ballots appear to be a significant worry for the NDC particularly in the race for Vice Chairpersons of the party. Some delegates ignorantly voted for 3 out of 9 candidates on the ballot sheet even though the party’s rules suggest the top 3 candidates with the highest individual votes are the ones who will be considered for the position of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Vice Chairpersons.
This means a vote for more than one person on the ballot paper annuls the validity of the said vote.
The National Democratic Congress has elected executives who will lead the party in its quest to unseat the governing New Patriotic Party in the 2020 general elections.
The importance of this Delegates’ congress cannot be overemphasized as the party hopes the new crop of executives will lead the team to oust the incumbent party.
Chairman of the Planning Committee Alex Segbefia confidently asserted that by the time the new executives are ready to go through another delegates elections, the NDC will be the government in power.
About 15,000 people, made up of 9,350 delegates and 5,650 observers, are expected to throng the premise to decide the fate of the 65 candidates vying for various positions.
Mr. Alex Segbefia outlined the breakdown of 65 candidates aspiring for the various positions. “The General Secretary is an all-male affair and we have 2 aspirants, the Deputy General Secretary position we have 11 aspirants; 10 males and 1 female. For the National Organiser position we have 7 aspirants; 6 males and 1 female, the Deputy National Organiser position we have 9 aspirants; 8 males and 1 female and for the National Communication position there are two aspirants and they are all male.”
He said 6 male aspirants are contesting for the Deputy National Communication position whereas 8 aspirants are contesting for National Executive Committee Membership position; they are 7 males and a female. “For the National Zongo Caucus Coordinator, we have 6 aspirants all of whom are male”, he added.
Two constituencies barred
Two constituencies; Affram Plains South and Kade, both in the Eastern Region will not take part in the congress for the reason that they have not been able to hold elections at the branch level. Also barred from the elections are some foreign branches of the party, for the same reason. What the affected constituencies and branches can do is attend the congress as observers but not as delegates.
Source: newswiregh.com