3,600 delegates decide NDC's fate today

About 3,600 delegates of the governing National Democratic Congress are expected to participate in the crucial elections on Saturday, to decide the fate of the party in the next four years.

This follows  months of several hold-ups arising out of the numerous legal battles against the party by some aggrieved members, ranging from eligibility of the outgoing national officers to decisions over the suitability of some of the aspirants.    

For the first time in the history of the party, 70 individuals have filed to contest 24 positions declared vacant, at the national delegates' congress being organized today, Saturday, December 20, at the Babayara Sports Stadium in Kumasi. 

Four persons are hoping to secure the chairmanship slot. These include the incumbent, Dr. Kwabena Adjei; Coordinator for National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Kofi Porturphy, former General Secretary, Alhaji Huudu Yahya as well as former Ambassador to Malaysia, Daniel Abodakpi.

Many have projected the NADMO Boss will topple the incumbent but Dr. Kwabena Adjei insists, he will pull a surprise and perhaps “end the political career” of his opponents. 

It is expected that six (6) out of 15 candidates will be selected to serve as vice chairs for the NDC and these include outgoing Women's Organiser, Jemima Anita Desoso; former Attorney General, Betty Mould-Iddrisu, former Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo; as well as former Education Minister, Lee Ocran. 

The Ashanti Regional capital,  especially the entrance to the Stadium, is awash with billboards of different forms, of the individuals contesting the various positions.

Key decisions
The National Executive Council of the party met Friday night and are expected to announce key decisions adopted for the conduct of the polls. 

Myjoyonline.com has learnt, key among the decisions will be the prohibition of the candidates from addressing the delegates in turns. 

This is to save some time and ensure that the congress runs smoothly without glitches.

Some analysts say the congress can either make or break the governing party because of the acrimonious manner in which some of the candidates conducted their campaigns particularly, those contesting the National Organiser position. One of the two candidates, Deputy General Secretary, Kofi Adams and the incumbent Yaw Boateng Gyan, will carry the day. 

The new leaders who would emerge victorious from Saturday's congress would be tasked to organize primaries for the presidential and parliamentary elections for the NDC ahead of the 2016 general elections. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Jerry Tsatro Mordy | [email protected]