General News of Saturday, 17 November 2018

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

LIVESTREAMING: NDC elects National Executives at 9th Delegates Congress

Several party stalwarts have converged at the Trade Fair Centre to elect new executives play videoSeveral party stalwarts have converged at the Trade Fair Centre to elect new executives

All eyes are on the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) who are set to decide their fate for the election 2020 as executives given the mandate today will seek to unseat the incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP) from governing the country.

A total of 65 aspirants are vying for the positions of National Chairman, Vice National Chairman, General Secretary, Vice General Secretary, National Organiser, Deputy National Organiser, National Communications Director, Deputy National Communications Director and National Zongo Caucus Coordinator.

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.

So far, the race for the National Chairman and the General Secretary seem to be the one generating most interest among the citizenry.

Perhaps the most revered and favourite politician of Ghanaians, Johnson Asiedu Nketia is for the first time in a long time facing stiff opposition from his second in command, Koku Anyidoho who has vowed to unseat his boss as the General Secretary in this keen contest.

For the position of the National Chairman, five stalwarts of the party are vying. They are a former Trade and Industry Minister and former NDC MP for Keta, Mr Dan Abodakpi; the party’s former Director of Elections, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo; a former Attorney General and current Vice-Chairperson, Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu; a businessman, Mr Daniel Anang, and Alhaji Huudu Yahaya.

The incumbent, Kofi Portuphy however decided to sit this one out by not seeking re-election.

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.