Ade Coker, Allotey Jacobs thump them all (photos)
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has held a series of regional conferences to elect regional executives for the party.
The conferences took place in the Greater Accra, Central, Upper West, Volta and Eastern regions.
Greater Accra
From the Greater Accra Region, Abdul Aziz reports that the incumbent Regional Chairman, Mr Joseph Ade Coker, retained his position in a keenly contested election.
He won with 157 votes while his closest contender, Mr Daniel Amartey, polled 103 votes in Saturday’s polls. Two other contenders in the chairmanship race, Mr Henry Ekow Manly-Spain and Mr Steven Akwetey got 52 and 22 respectively.
The contest for the regional secretary position was won by Mr Victor Quarshie and the Assistant Secretary position went to Ms Patricia Addy.
Mr Anthony Nukpenu was retained as the Regional Organiser, and he will be assisted by Mr Maxwell Ofosu.
The incumbent Treasurer of the party in the region, Alhaji Yahaya Kundow, also retained his position and the Deputy Treasurer went to Alhaji Haruna Seidu.
The Propaganda Secretary position was won by Jerry Johnson and his deputy is Francis Nartey.
The results may come as a surprise to many election watchers who tipped Mr Manly-Spain or Daniel Amartey to unseat the incumbent. The delegates remained faithful to Mr Coker because of what they described as his good works.
Central
Relatedly, a former Central Regional Communications Director of the NDC, Mr Bernard Allotey Jacobs, emerged winner in the regional chairmanship race.
He beat the incumbent chairman, Samuel Adu Yeboah by 79 votes, to be elected as the new Regional Chairman.
The Youth Organiser position went to Ishmeal Prah who had 31 votes, beating Nurudeen Kobina Essah by 25 votes.
For the Deputy Youth Organiser contest, Awal Oneal had 32 votes becoming the First Deputy Youth Organiser while the Second Deputy Youth Organiser position went to Eric Dadson with 28 votes.
The post of Women’s Organiser went to Sistiana Ekuwa Swanzy who had 19 votes, beating Emma Ahunu Armah and Tina Frimpong by 15 votes respectively.
Faustina Lamptey secured 31 votes to be elected as First Deputy Women’s Organiser and Esther Sam had 18 votes for the Second Deputy Women’s Organiser position.
Samuel Ahianyo won the race for Regional Secretary.
Below are more images from the congress
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Upper West
Emmanuel Modey, reports from Wa in the Upper West Region, that the results of the NDC delegates conference elections showed a lot of surprises to the extent that even the newly elected Regional Chairman could not be sure when he heard his name mentioned. "Is it true?" were the words that came out of his mouth.
The results of the polls went against the turn of events when other aspirants for the chairmanship position came to the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) Hall on Friday with pomp and grandeur, with a retinue of drummers and dancers singing their virtues.
However, Mr Matthew Song-Aabo, a 59-year-old farmer, the newly elected Regional Chairman, drove in quietly without any followers and took his seat.
Out of the 135 delegates who voted, Mr Song-Aabo who holds a B A Hons in Economics from the University of Ghana polled 44 votes while the long-serving incumbent, Alhaji Issahaque Malik, whom everybody thought would retain his position, came third with 27 votes.
The second position went to Mr Abdul Nasir Saani, alias Bunas, a 44-year-old businessman, with 39 votes while Alhaji Mustapha Zakaria, alias In Shaa Allah, a 61-year-old businessman, polled 14 votes. Alhaji Issahaque M. Natonah, alias "Double Chairman", a 68-year-old businessman, polled seven votes. There were three spoilt votes.
The results ushered in a new crop of executive, including a female. Only the incumbent Regional Organiser who has held that post since 1992, Mr Adams Issahaq, retained his position.
The position of the First Vice-Chairman went to Mr Seidu Bawa. Mr Dominic Ziniyel took the post of Secretary. Alhaji Nurah Issah Danwana became the Deputy Secretary, with Mr Prince Razak Abdul Moomin as treasurer and Mr Sunbavviera Samba as deputy treasurer. Other positions are Mr Issah Kantgyere as Propaganda Secretary, with Ms Eunice Kaminta as his deputy; Mr Adams Issahaq was elected as Regional Organiser and Mr Thomas Nwinbahaara as Deputy Organiser.
Mr Nichodemus Dery polled 27 votes to become the Regional Youth Organiser. His two deputies who polled 24 and 19 votes, respectively, are Zakaria Abdraman, alias Marcus, and Titus Pulkuu. For the Women’s Organiser's position, the incumbent, Hajia Cecilia Salamatu Hamzam polled 13 votes to win the race. She also had two deputies who are Madam Kate A. Haruna and Memuna Mahama Yahaya.
Volta
Mary Anane, also reports from Ho in the Volta Region that a founder member of the NDC in the Akan Constituency, Mr John Kwadwo Gyapong, was elected the new Volta Regional Chairman of the party.
The businessman takes over from Mr Kwesi Aboagye, the out-going Chairman, after polling 179 votes to beat his close contender, Mr Mawutor Agbavitor, who bagged 101 votes at the well-attended regional congress in Ho.
The other contestants were Captain George Nfodjo who polled 86 votes, Mr Kwame Ampofo — eight votes and Mr Kosi Kedem, one vote.
The colourful event was attended by prominent personalities in the party such as Ministers, Members of Parliament (MPs), municipal and district chief executives.
Ten executive members were elected out of 49 candidates by the 297 delegates.
The first and second vice-chairmanship positions were won by Mr Emmanuel Akrobotu and Mr Cyril Necku, respectively.
In his victory speech, Mr Gyapong said he had brought hope to all who held the view that NDC was losing grounds in the Volta Region.
He called on party faithful to ‘lace their boots’ because it was time to hit the ground running to secure overwhelming victory for the party in the next general election.
Winners
Others elected were Mr Simon Amegashie-Viglo (senior lecturer at Ho Polytechnic) who was retained as Secretary; Mr Mustapha Gbande, Deputy Secretary; Mr Henry Ametepe, Regional Organiser; Mr George Dake, Deputy Organiser; Mr Simon Baka, Treasurer; David Agboka, Deputy Treasurer; Mr Kafui Agbleze, Propaganda Secretary and Mr Chester Ben Ati, Deputy Propaganda Secretary.
Eastern
A former Eastern Regional Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Mark Tawiah, is now the Regional Chairman of the party reports Naa Lamiley Bentil, Koforidua
Mr Tawiah secured 129 votes to shove off his closest contender, Mr John Owusu Amankwah, who garnered 106 votes to become the Deputy Regional Chairman.
Mr Tawiah and 17 other executives were elected in a peaceful poll on Saturday after months of campaigning.
Ironically, Alhaji Sumeila, who had been the Acting Regional Chairman of the party, only managed 37 votes, while Oheneba Addo polled 49 votes.
Mr Samuel Kweku Adjei secured the confidence of the electorate, polling 126 votes to become the first vice-chairman followed closely by Madam Stella Ansah who secured 74 votes to become the second vice chairperson.
Mr Vans Tetteh, Mr Kofi Agyampong Darkwa, Madam Love Joy Danso and Mr Konate Seidu trailed with 52, 12, 4, and 13 votes, respectively.
A total of 18 ballots were rejected.
The Regional National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) Coordinator, Mr Ransford Owusu Boakye, became the new regional organiser after polling 174 votes. His lone contender, Mr Kudzo Adopo, secured 148 votes.
Mr Hackman Seidu Kabori, Mr Julius Kwame Amoah and Alhaji Ibrahim Obiri contended the deputy regional organiser position.
Mr Julius Kwame Amoah, however, secured 77 votes to become the deputy regional organiser. Mr Kabori had 39 votes while Mr Obiri had 7.
Mr Kevor Mc-Oliver proved favourite by polling 249 votes to become the regional secretary. He was trailed by Mr M. M Doe who managed 74 votes.
A broadcast journalist with a private radio station at Koforidua, Mr Samson Annor Dompreh, is now the deputy regional secretary.
Mr Dompreh had 176 votes while his contenders, Mr Christian Mensah Sewodzor and Mr Foster Asante, polled 103 and 43 votes, respectively.
For the position of the regional treasurer, Mohammed Samson Kwakwa had 199 to control the purse of regional office.
Alhaji Abdul Aziz and Seidu Mohammed who had contested that position secured 100 and 17 votes, respectively.
Mr Emmanuel Okia Minta got 102 votes to become the deputy regional treasurer.
Hajia Sahadat Ibrahim, Madam Rejoice Hukepti, Mr Lawson Simon Mensah and Richmond Brenu had 92, 73, 39, and five votes, respectively.
Baba Jamal Konneh secured 263 votes to announce his position as the new regional propaganda secretary. He was challenged by Mr Isaac Adonu who polled only 47 votes.
For the regional youth organiser position, Madam Hannah Appeau Wiredu had 42 votes while Mr Joshua Attah Mensah had 39 votes.
There were 332 delegates made up of founding fathers of the party, constituency executives, seven Members of Parliament, 26 municipal and district chief executives and 10 ministers.
Prior to the elections, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Antwi Bosiako-Sekyere, advised the delegates to elect people with a track record to help maintain the party in power.
