In spite of the new executives elected by delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the governing party will lose the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has said.
According to him, the NPP has performed poorly so far in office after winning the 2016 polls, a situation, he said, will inure to the benefit of the NDC in 2020.
During the NPP’s Delegates’ Conference on Saturday, 7 July in Koforidua, Mr Freddie Blay was elected as the substantive Chairman.
Mr Blay polled 3,021 votes as against 2,515 of his closest contender and four-time aspirant Stephen Ntim. The dark horse in the race for the chair slot, Dr Richard Amoako Baah polled 18 votes.
Acting General Secretary John Boadu also won as substantive General Secretary with 4,277 beating his only opponent Richard Ahiagbah who polled 1,274 votes.
In the National Organiser race, former Youth Organiser, Sammi Awuku also won by a landslide 4,913 votes while his other two contenders: Suleiman A Sadik and Emmanuel Kodua polled 466 and 142, respectively. Mr Kwabena Abakwah Yeboah was maintained by the delegates with a vote of 2,492. His other contenders Nuhu Mahama and Mary Oduro polled 1,050 and 1,004 votes, respectively.
For the Youth Organiser race, Nana Boakye won by 423 votes with his closest contender Dominic Eduah polling 243 votes. Former Nasara Coordinator Kamal-Deen polled 102 votes while Appiah Dansah had just 1 vote.
In the Nasara Coordinator race, Abdul Aziz Futa emerged winner out of the 14 contestants with 201 votes with his closest rival Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu polling 123 votes. Ms Kate Gyamfua also won the Women Organiser slot with 686 votes with Joyce Konokie Zampare polling 109.
Speaking about the new crop of NPP leaders on Accra 100.5FM Monday, 9 July, Mr Nketia said: “These are old faces who have been reaffirmed, and, so, there is nothing new.”
He added: “The performance of a political party is not about the individuals, and, so, the fact that these same people helped the NPP to win the 2016 elections does not mean they will win 2020.
“I was the General Secretary in 2008 and 2012 when NDC won the elections, I was also the same General Secretary in 2016 when the NDC lost, and, so, winning or losing elections depends on the situation you find yourself in.
“Currently, the situation has changed for the NPP, the environment has also changed completely. The NPP’s case at this time is so horrible that they can’t do anything about it. Even with the best General Secretary or National Chairman, they will lose the elections in 2020.”