Betty to rally grass roots for NDC victory 2016. . . As she joins vice chair race

Former Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, will be contesting the position of the National Vice Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the party’s upcoming congress.

After months of hold-up, the NDC is set to organise regional and national executive elections ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections in 2016.

The process had been stalled by an injunction placed on it by a member of the party, Mr Linus Njonolah, who has decided to discontinue the case.

In a telephone interview, Mrs Mould-Iddrisu confirmed to the Daily Graphic yesterday that she would be contesting the vice chair slot of the NDC when nominations were opened.

Vice chair aspirants

Her posters and banners are out in parts of Accra.

Already, former Minister of Education and vice chairman of the NDC, Mr Lee Ocran and former CEO of Accra Hearts of Oak, Mr Harry Zakour, have disclosed their intentions to contest the vice chairmanship of the party.  Ambassador Alhaji Sinare and former Minister of Local Government and National Organiser of the NDC, Mr Ofosu Ampofo, are also reported by the media as possible contenders.

There are six vice chair positions for the taking as the party’s constitution demands.

Key goal

She said the contest for the NDC national vice chairmanship would give her the needed opportunity not only to serve the rank and file of the party but the country as a whole.

On what she was bringing on board, the former Minister of Education said she was very committed to showcasing her grass-roots activism to help the NDC retain political power in 2016.

“The contest for the NDC vice chair will give me the opportunity to showcase my grass-roots activism and to help my party, the NDC, to retain political power,” she asserted.

As a gender advocate, Mrs Mould-Iddrisu further pointed out that she was all geared up to highlight gender issues which, in her view, were woefully lacking in the society.

“So far, women issues are not being championed and it is very difficult for Ghanaian women to rise up the political ladder,” she stated and added that, “Contesting the position of the vice slot is a chance and an opportunity to serve the people in NDC as well as show my leadership qualities.”

She said that she had been very active in the NDC since early 1990s till date and had been involved in party affairs at the constituency levels, particularly in the Ashanti Region, monitoring voter registration and exhibition of the voter register. 

She said her chances were very bright in view of the fact that she was the only female contesting that position.

Mrs Mould-Iddrisu believes her massive support base in the Ashanti Region and her dedication and commitment to the NDC would facilitate efforts to secure the executive position of the party.

Brief political profile

Mrs Mould-Iddrisu is Ghana's first female Attorney General and was once tipped to be the running mate of the Prof John Evans Atta Mills in the 2008 presidential elections.

She was the former Director, Legal and Constitutional Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat, London UK, and headed the Commonwealth Staff team on the Commonwealth Observer Group, which observed the 2006 Uganda elections.

She is a respected lawyer and versatile scholar, who is very passionate about gender issues and is committed to bringing to the fore the problems, opportunities and advantages women bring to the table of good governance.