General Mosquito Defends $20m NDC Office

Johnson Asiedu Nketia aka General Mosquito

General Secretary of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia has openly justified the party's decision to construct its headquarters in Accra.

'I want to confirm that yes we have acquired a national office,' Mr. Nketia, who was speaking to delegates during the Volta Regional Congress, disclosed.

'I don't know where this idea came from that having a party headquarters is a crime in this country, I don't know, honestly.'

The NDC scribe, who is popularly known as General Mosquito, further denied claims that the six-storey building was constructed at the cost of $20 million.

'If people are talking about the cost, which they have manufactured for themselves, I want to tell you that it is far cheaper to build a party office than to buy 300 pickups for one campaign.'

'All the political parties have been buying pick-ups for these campaigns and nobody has been complaining, so if we use it to build a party office, I don't understand all the hullabaloo about the national office which we have acquired.'

Mr. Nketia, who is also known for making wild allegations said, 'If people choose to spend $90,000 a night at big hotels in Kumasi that is their money: they decide what to do with it, but if it were NDC, we'll build a guest house in Kumasi so that anytime our flagbearer goes there he'll sleep there,' General Mosquito told the party's members.

He noted that the controversy about the headquarters was enough and hoped that his statement would put the matter to rest.

General Mosquito told delegates of the party that 'we intend acquiring regional offices and then proceed to acquire constituency offices because we are a permanent organisation: we are not a temporary institution, so we have come to stay.'

After the polls, a former MP for Kadjebi-Akan constituency, John Kwadwo Gyapong, popularly known as Gyapong Kudjo, polled 176 votes to become the next regional chairman.

His victory comes days after intense debate about his competency to lead the party in the region.

A group calling itself Concerned Card-Bearing members of NDC in the Akan Constituency earlier stated that 'a vote for Gyapong was a vote for doom for the party in the Volta Region.

His closest contender Mawutor Agbavitor got 101 votes.

Other contenders who performed poorly include Dr. Kwame Ampofo, (five votes), Captain George Nfodjo, former MP for Ho Central, (six votes) and Kosi Kedem, a single vote.

Mr. Kedem, who was surprised at the development, could not fathom why his campaign coordinators failed to vote for him.

Mr. Gyapong, who was the party's Director of Election in 2012, is said to have evolved the party's alleged dirty election tactics in the region.

He also contested in the last regional election in December 2009 and lost by nine votes to the immediate-past chairman, Kwesi Aboagye.

He contested for Kadjebi-Akan seat and lost to an independent candidate, Joseph Kwadwo Ofori in 2012.

Simon Amegashie-Viglo, Simon Myles Bakar, Henry Ametepe and Mercy Kuada retained their positions as regional secretary, treasurer, organizer and women's organizer respectively.

Egypt Korbla Kudoto, a Personal Assistant to the Transport Minister, Dzifa Attivor was elected as the regional youth organizer.

From Fred Duodu, Ho ( [email protected] )