Politics of Sunday, 9 July 2006

Source: GNA

Odododiodoo NDC retains Chairman

Accra, July 09, GNA - Mr. Daniel Nii Okai has retained his position as the Chairman of the Odododiodoo branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC at a Constituency Conference held at the Richard Akwei Memorial School at Ayalolo in Accra on Saturday.

All the new Executive members were returned unopposed in the election conducted and supervised by officials of the National Electoral Commission and observed by some Regional and Constituency Executives of the party in the Greater Accra Region including, Mr Danny Adjei-Annang, Regional Chairman.

The Executives, which has Mr. Ben Okai as 1st Vice Chairman, include Mr. Festus Bekoe, 2nd Vice Chairman, Mr. Latif Osman, Secretary, Mr. Benjiman Armah, Organizing Secretary and Ms Lawulatu Salami as the Treasurer, was sworn into office by the Second Regional Vice Chairperson of the party, Ms Dinnah Van-Lare.

Presenting its report from 2001 to 2006, Mr. Okai recalled that the old Executives took office after the NDC had lost the Odododiodio seat in the 2000 election and immediately put in place strategies to re-organise the party, which worked to perfection with "two straight electoral victories and more to come".

He said after a three-month exercise the executive was able to organize the branches and members of the party were able to win all the three electoral areas in the 2002 District Assembly elections.

With this the NDC started work towards the 2004 General election with Mr. Lante Vanderpuye emerging as the Parliamentary Candidate but unfortunately he was put before court on an unfounded allegations and the Late Samuel Nii Ayikwei Mankattah had to be put forward.

Mr Okai said that in spite of its incumbency, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) lost the seat to the NDC but tragedy befell the party only five months after the election with the death of Mr. Mankattah.

He said since the party was solid on the ground it won the subsequent by election with the current MP, Mr. JonathanTackie Komme.

The constituency Chairman thanked the NDC hierarchy and members for their support and expressed the hope that the party would win the 2008 elections.

Mr. Tackie Komme stressed the need for unity within the rank and file of the party to prove that the constituency was still the stronghold of the NDC and to ensure that it regained power in the forthcoming general elections.

He announced that he had spent 50 million cedis from his share of the Common Fund to assist development projects at the Akwei Memorial School, 100 million cedis to improve

facilities at the Bishops Boys School.

Mr. Tackie Komme said he had provided 400 dual desks to be presented to first cycle schools in the area, while traditional and religious leaders were also to benefit from 700 plastics chairs to be distributed among them and urged members of the NDC to unite solidly behind the party to win more elections in the area and to return to power.

Mr. Adjei Annang appealed to members of the new executive to foster unity among them and to act as a team to ensure victory Mt Jerry Akwei Thompson, Regional Organising Secretary, commended the supporters and members of the party for their fighting spirit and urged them to continue their support to ensure that the NDC returned to power in the general elections.