Nyamekye-Marfo wins NDC chairmanship race in BA

A former Brong Ahafo Regional Minister and Ghana’s Ambassador to Algeria, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, has been elected unopposed as the regional chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The party’s incumbent regional secretary, Mr Dennis Yeboah Twumasi, and the Zongo Caucus Coordinator candidate, Alhaji Baba Gausu, who faced no opposition were also elected unopposed.

The exercise which was conducted at the Sunyani Jubilee Park last Saturday brought together a total of 925 delegates from all 29 constituencies to elect their regional officers.

Election

Mr Ibrahim Gariba, a businessman, emerged as the first vice chairman after polling a total of 434 to beat his two challengers, Mr Kwadwo Takyi-Arhin and Nasiru Yusifu Farafara, who polled 212 and 200 votes respectively.

Mr Takyi-Arhin, who was Regional Youth Organiser of the party automatically became the second vice chairman since he came second in the vice chairmanship contest.

The Deputy Regional Secretary was won by Mr Mohammed Shamsudeen, who obtained 408 votes to beat Mr Isaac Donkor who had 289 votes while a third contender, Mr Mohammed Abdul had 156 votes.

For the Regional Organiser position, incumbent Mr Mohammed Seidu was re-elected after polling 543 votes to beat his close contender, Prince Opoku-Mensah, who polled 198 while Mr Akwasi Lampo had 114 votes.

The deputy regional organiser position was contested by three candidates but at the end of the exercise, Mr Charles Asiedu emerged as a winner after polling 553 votes to beat the other two contenders, Abdul Fatau Abass and Gabriel Kwarteng, who garnered 145 and 124 votes respectively.

Mr Gapson Kofi Raphael was elected as the regional treasurer with 480 votes to beat Joseph Abonkra Manu who had 375 votes while Peter Suaka Lonyian emerged as a deputy regional treasurer with 354 votes.

In the contest for the other positions, Mr Charles Akowua Tuffuor had 542 votes to become the regional communication officer while Eric Adjei had 482 votes to win the deputy regional communication office contest.

Madam Agnes Kusi, a former Sunyani West District Chief Executive, won the Women’s Organiser position, with Fati Abubakar as her deputy while Thomas Warlanyo Tsekpo became the regional youth organiser.

The General Secretary of the party, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, sworn the newly-elected regional officers into office to begin their four-year mandate and reminded them about the task ahead for the party to recapture power during the 2020 general election.

Voting

The 925 delegates from all 29 constituencies voted for eight positions while candidates for three positions, that is, the regional chairman, regional secretary and the Zongo Caucus Coordinator stood unopposed.

The exercise, which was held at the Jubilee Park in Sunyani, started at 2.00 pm and ended later in the day.

Besides the delegates, hundreds of party faithful and supporters of the candidates who were chanting and dancing made the congress very lively while food vendors and sellers of party paraphernalia made good business from the congress.

Addressing delegates

Addressing the delegates, the outgoing Regional Chairman of the party, Mr Opoku Atuahene, thanked the regional and constituency executive as well as the rank and file of the party for sacrificing their time, energy and money to serve the party during Mahama’s administration.

He called for peace before, during and after the regional elections since the exercise was a family contest.

Mr Atuahene also advised those who would be victorious to tap the experience of the losers to enable the party go into the 2020 general election with a united front.