The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has begun vetting aspirants for the race to occupy various executive positions for the party in the Western region.

The regional Vetting Committee (VC), which started vetting the 55 aspirants who have put up their names to contest the various positions in the party are led by Mr. Danny Annan, a National Vice Chairman of the party, together with four other executives.

The four members of the committee are Hajia Zenaibu, Mr. Akuamoah Boateng, Lieutenant Kaku Korsah (Rtd) and Mr. Alfred Ekow Gyan, Deputy regional Minister.

The Committee is sitting for two days to vet the aspirants, after which those who qualify to contest the positions for which they had filed their nomination would be announced.

At the Residency of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), where the vetting is taking place, scores of supporters for the aspirants had converged to give moral support to their preferred candidates.

First to appear before the Vetting Committee was the incumbent regional Chairman of the party, Nana Kojo Toku, who is seeking for re-election.

Nana Toku told The Chronicle in an interview that the questions posed to him by the VC in his bid to seek for re-election were centered on how to move the NDC party forward.

According to him, questions about his vision for the party and how to increase parliamentary seats for the party in the region were also asked.

Mr. Michael Aidoo, who is contesting the Chairmanship position, on his part said he was satisfied with the line of questions posed to him by the VC. He added that he outlined his vision for the party and reiterated his belief to blend business with politics.

Mr. Aidoo, populary known as ‘Big Aidoo’, further told this reporter that the presence of the delegates at the venue was an indication that his message had gone down well with them.

All the 55 card bearing members who picked forms to contest the positions have filed and submitted their nomination forms, subject to being vetted by the VC.

When vetted and approved to contest the positions, the number would go down in NDC history as the highest number of candidates to challenge for executive positions in the Western region.

The Regional Secretary of the party, Mr. Joseph Cobbinah, who is not seeking re-election, confirmed the figure in a telephone interview. The party has fixed 11th to 13th November as the tentative date for the regional election.

Three persons are contesting for the chairmanship position, namely Michael Aidoo, also known as ‘Big Aidoo’, Ampong Noble Justice and Robert Anumel.

Big Aidoo, who hails from the Northern part of the region, is seen as the man who would give the incumbent chairman a run for his money.

The Vice Chairmanship race has a total of six contestants. They are Johnson Armah, Solomon K. Amoah and Jerry Kankam Darkwa.

The rest are Alhaji Fuseini Mahama, Oheneba Kofi Ankamah, Alhaji Abdulla Toppoh and Kobina Pra Annan.

Political connoisseurs believe the race is between Kobina Pra Annan, a Former Municipal Chief Executive for the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) and Alhaji Fuseini Mahama, a former Vice chairman of the NDC. The Secretary position, which recorded the least number, has three persons slugging it out.

The deputy Secretary, Adamu Musah, who is contesting the substantive position, is battling with Joseph Nelson, who once contested for the deputy position but lost to Adamu Musah during the last regional elections.

The other candidate is Stephen Ayobisa, an unknown figure in the race. The position for the deputy Secretary interestingly has four persons battling it out for glory.

Mr. Charles Kojo Adu Fordjour, who was co-opted as the deputy Secretary, following the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) reunification with the NDC, would be battling it out with Jose Elijah, Emmanuel Donkoh, Stanley Annan and Emmanuel Gordon.

The Organizing position has three strong candidates. They are Osman Tanko Garba, Japhet Baidoo, who is the regional Coordinator of NADMO and George Kobina Richardson, a former Organizer for the Bibiani Constituency.

The race is, however, between the NADMO Coordinator and the former Bibianai Organizer. The Deputy Organizing position also has three personalities vying for the position. They are; Ekow Arhin, Kwesi Dick and Thomas Esinae.

Considering the names behind the personalities who are contesting the Womens Organizer position, it has reduced the race to a straight battle between the two candidates for the position.

The incumbent, Anita Annan, who is reported to have lost touch with the women wing of the party, would have to prove a strong case to the delegates as to why they should retain her for the position, for another third term.

Her closest rival, Mrs. Janet Ansah, a bigwig in the party, is tipped as the best choice to take over the Womens Organizer position.

As usual, the deputy Women Organizer position has the incumbent, Madam Araba Tagoe battling it out with Anna Baffoe Bonnie, Beatrice Sam and Beatrice Owusu Amankwah.

Another Interesting position which would be fiercely contested is the Youth Organizer. Five people have filed to contest the position, which includes Muhammed Yunus, the incumbent Propaganda Secretary, Daniel Darlington, George Dadzie, Clamperstone Sagoe and Isaac Cobbinah.