Politics of Monday, 21 December 2009

Source: GNA

Odododiodioo NDC Chairman gets the nod of constituents

Accra, Dec. 21, GNA - Mr. Daniel Nii Okai, Chairman of the Odododiodioo National Democratic Congress (NDC) and most of his executives were on Sunday, returned unopposed by the Electoral Commission (EC) at a Constituency Conference in Accra. Also returned unopposed were the Vice Chairman, Mr. Festus Clifford Bekoe, the Organiser, Mr. Samuel Armah and the Propaganda Secretary, Mr. Nii Addo Quaynor.

The EC also declared that Naa Koshie Golightly, the Deputy Secretary and Madam Rebecca Annan, the Deputy Treasurer were the sole candidates for their positions as at the close of nomination on Wednesday, December 16. Just before polling, Mr. Abubakar A Wahab who had filed to contest the position of Deputy Organiser stepped down for Robert N. A. Tisei, an old executive member.

In the election for the Secretary, Mr. Joseph Otoo, the acting Secretary, defeated Mr. Alfred Nii Kotey Ashie, the Co-ordinator for the Korle Workor Ward by 160 votes to 57, while Hajia Lawulatu Salami retained her position as Treasurer with 172 votes as against 44 by Mr. Samuel Ezard Abbey.

There was no polling for the positions of Executive Members as eight people filed for the slots under the party's guidelines. A 33- year-old Graduate Teacher, Ms Mavis Manugbor was elected Women's Organiser and Mr. Elvis Codjoe, a Social Worker was elected Youth Organiser. Ms. Manugbor defeated the incumbent, Ms. Vivian Nartey by 55 votes to 39 while Mr. Codjoe also dislodged the current Youth Organiser, Mr. Nii Teiko Tackie with 51 votes to 30 at a Constituency Women and Youth conference in Accra on Friday. Mr. Alhassan Nuhu Muzamilla, the Deputy Youth Organiser, retained his position with 65 votes to 17 by Mr. Matthew Aduko. Ms. Margaret Kpakpo who filed for the Women's Organiser contest stepped down before the election, while Ms. Georgina Akabutu was retuned unopposed as the Deputy Women's Organiser. In an address at the conference on the theme: "Using Political Power to Enhance the Lives of Our Constituents," Mr. Okai stated that the focus of the party in the constituency should be "The welfare of the people instead of fishing for positions at party primaries and congresses, which has been a major drain on our energies as a political party in the constituency". "We are therefore resolved that for the people to benefit from the government agenda of creating a better Ghana, we need to create a platform for the coalition of ideas and opinions of all sections of the community," he said.

Mr. Jonathan Nii Tackie Komme, Member of Parliament for Odododiodioo, commended the delegates for their comportment and said the election, which went on without acrimony was unprecedented in the annals of the constituency. He called on members of the party to continue in the same spirit to ensure that the Constituency was peaceful to show detractors of the NDC that the party was moving forward in the right direction. Present at the conference were National, Greater Accra Regional and constituency executives of the party.