The National Democratic Congress (NDC) last Saturday elected Dr. Yao Obed Asamoah as the party's new and sole Chairman at the end of its Fifth National Delegates Congress in Accra. The former Attorney General triumphed narrowly over Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama by 334-332 votes. J. H. Owusu Acheampong stepped down prior to the elections.

After initially conceding in a gracious and dignified manner, Alhaji Iddrisu found the figures too close to call and with the backing of his followers, withdrew his concession and asked for a re-count.

The Alhaji Alhaji Mahama’s request followed reports that during the counting process, two votes that were not properly cast were given to Dr Obed Asamoah. Deputy national electoral Commissioner, Mr. Katanka however explained that the two votes were given to Dr Asamoah, because all the officials present, including Mr. Mahama’s polling agent agreed that the votes really belonged to Dr Asamoah.

Sarfo Katanga, who supervised the elections, rejected the intial request for a recount, on the grounds that the votes were reviewed after the initial counting and there was therefore no need for another recount. In the ensuing controversy, the head of the party’s research unit, Dr Tony Aidoo and former Ashanti Regional Minister, Daniel Ohene Agyekum walked out of the congress venue in protest of the results.

After the intial wrangling, the recount took place and the Electoral Commission who supervised the voting reconfirmed Dr. Asamoah's narrow win. This settled the matter and restored the sense of cordiality between the two.

Even before the recount, some stalwarts of the party were resigning their positions in protest at Dr. Asamoah's win.

Nana Asamoah, the Western Region Chairman of the party announced to the media his resignation with immediate effect as regional chairman. Unconfirmed reports had Dr. Ato Quarshie, Central Region Chairman also announcing his resignation.

In his acceptance speech, Dr Asamoah called for unity and solidarity in the NDC. He pledged to work closely with Alhaji Mahama and other members of the party both within and outside the executive to help boost the political fortunes of the NDC.

Dr Asamoah pledged his unswerving commitment to work with others as a team to revamp the structures of the party, draw up appropriate strategies and get the alternative policies and programmes of the party directly to the people to position it to win the 2004 elections.

Alhaji Iddrisu, on his part, congratulated Dr Asamoah and offered him the hand of co-operation in the bid to boost the fortunes of the party. He called on members of the party to put whatever drawbacks occurred at the congress behind them and join hands to bring the NDC back to power.

Mr John Mahama, the Minority Spokesman on Communications, said the congress, the highest decision-making body of the party, had spoken and urged all well-meaning members of the party to accept and respect it. He acknowledged the pain experienced by some due to the narrowness of the margin of defeat but urged them to accept such development in good faith.

Former vice President and the party’s flagbearer in the 2000 elections, Professor Evans Atta Mills later called on party members to remain united in spite of the controversy and bickering before, during and after the congress.

With Obed Asamoah's election and the tweaks to the NDC constitution, the Rawlings factor/faction in the NDC seems to be on the decline.

Before the voting for party officers, the party "relieved" Mr. Jerry John Rawlings of his leadership position in the party, but maintained him as the "Founder" of the party. The party amended article five of its constitution, which had conferred on Rawlings the titles of Leader and Founder.

Mr Ken Dzirasah, Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament and a leading member of the party who read a draft proposal, which was accepted by the over 700 delegates explained that "it is necessary at this stage to de-couple the position of Founder from that of Leader." This is a significant shift in the party's organisational structure, which effectively shunts Rawlings aside from any policy direction of the party.

Mr. Dzirasah said the development would enable whoever emerges as the flag bearer of the party to take up the role as leader to spearhead the party to victory.

Ken Dzirasah announced, "the party, however, acknowledges the invaluable role that ex-President Rawlings played as Leader and Founder and would continue to play that role for a very long time to come."

But perhaps the most significant thing to be articulated by Dzirasah at the congress was on party philosophy. He said the NDC now sees itself as a Social Democratic Party that believes in egalitarianism.

He said the party would now relate accordingly with people in the social, cultural, educational, political, religious and economic dimensions in a multi-party environment along those lines.

Mr. Dzirasah explained that the development would enable the party to have a clear philosophical or ideological direction. He said the party would identify with like-minded political parties and share experiences with them.

The issue of chairman or co-chairmen, another contentious pre-congress issue was also settled when those in favour of a single chairman narrowly beat those in favour of co-chairmen by 343 votes to 331. It was a major divisive issue before the congress and had in fact threatened to tear the party apart.

With Dr. Obed Asamoah in the saddle, and all the constitutional changes in his favour, the NDC would no doubt be entering a new phase. Its ranks are expected to be depleted by the absence of the services of some of its most raucous members who clearly did not want Obed Asamoah to win. Obed would be expected to give the party a softer and more accommodating image, but even with that, it is most unlikely that the NDC would be in a position to give the NPP a serious challenge in 2004.

Dr. Asamoah would be working with Alhaji Huudu Yahaya as his Vice Chairman and Dr. Josiah Aryee as his General Secretary.

Summary of Appointments

• Chairman: Obed Asamoah
• Secretary General: Josiah Ayerh
• First Vice Chairman: Alhaji Huudu Yahaya
• Propaganda Secretary: Dr Farouk Briamah
• Deputy Propaganda Secretary: Ms Akua Dansua (MP for North Dayi) and Alhaji Issaka Bortei
• Other vice chairpersons: E. T. Mensah; Nii Okaidja Adamafio; Samuel Salas Mensah, Miss Hilda Sarfo.
• National Treasurer: Mrs Margaret Clarke-Kwesie (former Minister of State in the office of the President)
• Deputy Treasurer: Sam Sallas Mensah
• National Organiser : Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, MP for Fanteakwa
• National Executive Committee (NEC): Madam Sherry Aryeetey, Mr Dan Abodakpi (a former Minister of Trade and Industry), Dr Mustapha Ahmed (MP for Ayawaso East), Professor Kofi Awoonor (former vice chairman), Mrs Barbara Fynn Williams