Yammin fails to lead NDC in Ashanti, causes ‘confusion’ with machomen

Enoch Darfah Frimpong Politics Sep - 02 - 2018 , 07:23 3 minutes read

A former Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Yammin has been rejected in his attempt to lead the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) as Chairman in the Ashanti Region.

Yammin, a former Ashanti Regional Secretary of the NDC lost by 67 votes.

Andrew Nana Kwasi is a former Ashanti Regional vice chairman of the NDC and a businessman beat him with 668 votes as against his 611 votes on Saturday at the Twebeboah Kodua Senior High School in Kumawu, where the Ashanti Regional NDC delegates held their conference.

Yammin previously served as Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, and when he was reshuffled and made Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, a rift between him and the then Regional Minister resulted in his dismissal as deputy minister.

Daniel Kenu reported from Kumawu that the shock results, left the former deputy regional minister, Yamin, speechless as Nana and his elated drum-beating fans poured onto the streets to celebrate the midnight declaration by the regional EC boss, Serebour Quarcoe.

The other two other contestants for the chairmanship position, T.K Braimah and Kayad Adu Gyamfi could only manage 18 and eight votes respectively.

A senior lecturer of the Kumasi Technical University, Kwame Zu was promoted from deputy regional secretary to Secretary when he secured 757 votes as against 583 votes by lawyer Evans Amankwaa.

The executive officers made up of a blend of old and new executives saw the entry of Alhaji Salisu Musah as the new Vice chairman with 448 votes.

Other winners in the eight hour elections were Isham Alhassan as regional organiser, Alhaji Bashiru Amissah as his deputy; Hopeson Keku, Treasurer, Prince Atta, deputy Treasurer, Abass Nurudeen, communication officer and Alex Safo Agyei as his deputy.

The regional Zongo Coordinator went to Sumalia Aliu Futah.

Last week per the tenets of the party's constitution, the regional youth organiser and his deputies as well as the regional women's and her deputy were elected at Ejura.

The general secretary of the NDC, Johnson Aseidu Nketia, who inaugurated the newly-elected executives urged them to close their ranks to help unseat the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2020 elections.

Earlier, Yammin created confusion at the conference grounds, reports Citinewsroom.

When Yammin and a crowd of 'macho men' arrived, the gates to the hall had been locked but they bulldozed their way into the assembly hall where the election was ongoing.

The aspiring Chairman was seen making a forceful entry into the hall when Police tried to stop him at the entrance.

The General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, who was observing proceedings at the school during his address asked that the door to the hall be closed to allow delegates to listen to his remarks.

Earlier, some delegates trooped in and out of the hall distracting speakers and listeners alike.

The forceful entry of Joseph Yammin which saw a disapproval of some of the delegates got the NDC members hooting and making fun of him.

In explaining what happened after the dust had settled, Asiedu Nketia said the aspiring Chairman made a forceful entry because he thought it was a plan to “lock him out.”

Johnson Asiedu Nketia explained further that Yammin’s action was because he was absent when the order to lock the door for less distraction was made.

He apologised on behalf of Joseph Yammin for the seeming confusion.

About 1500 delegates of the NDC in the Ashanti Region voted to elect new regional executives.