All is set for the main opposition political party in Ghana, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to elect new national executives to lead the party for the next four years.
The party will undertake this exercise at it’s 10th National Delegates Congress currently ongoing at the Accra Sports Stadium in Osu.
All the leaders of the party in the 16 regions of the country have converged at the soccer venue to cast votes to select leaders to occupy the various national positions within the party.
Positions being contested by the party members include: National Chairman, General Secretary, National Organiser, National Executive Member (NEC) and National Communications Officer positions.
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John Mahama arrives at Congress
Former President Mahama arrived at the congress grounds with the party’s running mate for the 2020 elections, Jean Mensah.
JM, as he is known and called, responded to cheers from the delegates of the party as he walked from the centre line to the podium positioned at Osu end of the Accra Sports Stadium.
‘JM Beba’, ‘JM for 2024’ were among the numerous slogans sang in his praise by the delegates.
Asiedu Nketia arrives
The General Secretary of the NDC arrived to a rapturous from delegates and other supporters of the party at large.
He used the main stadium gate where he was ushered in by vehicles tooting their horns.
His vehicle drove through a large crowd of people cheering him before finally arriving at the inner perimeter of the stadium where he went round to greet all the delegates before taking his seat on the podium.
The stakes
The stake and spotlight is the election of the National Chairman as the incumbent National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, will be challenged by the incumbent General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia.
Although two other stalwarts of the party – a former Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashitey, and a former Deputy Minister of Works and Housing, Samuel Yaw Adusei, are in the chairmanship race, Ofosu Ampofo and Asiedu Nketia will be the cynosure of all eyes.
Many political watchers are waiting to see whether Mr Ofosu Ampofo can retire Mr Asiedu Nketia from active politics or the man known in political circles as General Mosquito will upset Mr Ofosu Ampofo. The mantra, ‘fear delegates’ will prevail once again in this contest.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo is seeking re-election for a second term, while Mr Asiedu Nketia, who has been the party’s General Secretary for 17 years, will slug it out with the incumbent.
Other positions
There are other national executive positions such as the General Secretary and National Organiser that also promise to be hotly contested.
The General Secretary position has three leading members of the party, namely the incumbent Deputy General Secretary, Dr Peter Boamah Otokunor; the National Elections Director, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, and a former Minister of State, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey.
The National Organiser position will also be contested by five personalities. They are the incumbent, Joshua Hamidu Akamba, Henry Osei Akoto, Mahdi Mohammed Gibril, Sidii Abubakari and Solomon Yaw Nkansah.
Security
Security is very tight at the venue with security officers stationed at various points to fight crime.
Interestingly, the police have put up a makeshift police post which has charge office as well.
This post will process offenders as well.
GhanaNewsPage.Com will be bringing readers to speed on happenings at the venue.
