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20.12.2014 Politics

Mosquito Vrs Mahama

By Daily Guide
Mosquito Vrs Mahama
20.12.2014 LISTEN

The battle lines seem to have been drawn regarding who takes control of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as the party goes to congress today to elect national officers ahead of the 2016 general elections.

The event which is taking place at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi will see over 3,629 delegates voting to elect the officers for the positions of National Chairman, Vice Chairpersons, General Secretary, Deputies, National Organiser, Deputies, Treasurer, Propaganda Secretary and Deputies.

Seventy aspirants are vying for about 23 various positions in the party.

Attracting the highest patronage is the vice chairman slot - with 17 aspirants and 12 vying for the deputy propaganda position.

Today's election is seen as a battle for the heart and soul of the governing party, with various schemes and interests at play as allegations are being levelled against the presidency for using money to influence delegates.

The contest has been characterised by acrimony and allegations of massive vote-buying on the part of persons suspected to be supported by President John Mahama, even though the president has denied any involvement.

There is general perception that the NDC is under the beck and call of the General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, popularly known as General Mosquito, who is becoming too powerful, having unilaterally clipped the wings of the party's founder Jerry John Rawlings.

It's not clear if Rawlings is attending the congress as sources said he had travelled to South Africa early this week.

The congress therefore promises to be an interesting contest with incumbent Asiedu Nketia and President Mahama – who according to the constitution of the NDC is the leader of the party – squaring up for the control of the political grouping.

While Asiedu Nketia is waging a campaign to retain his post and those of most of his colleague current executives, President Mahama is alleged to be sponsoring a number of candidates to change the old order, including the incumbent National Chairman, Dr Kwabena Adjei.

The general secretary is being challenged quietly by Abdul Ishaq Farrakan.

In the camp of Asiedu Nketia are Dr Kwabena Adjei and Yaw Boateng Gyan, whose position as National Organiser is being seriously threatened by Kofi Adams, spokesman for the party's founder.

Incumbent Deputy Propaganda Secretary Solomon Nkansah, who is now seeking to become the substantive propaganda secretary, is equally struggling to save himself from the sinking ship with his position being contested by Kobby Fiagbe, editor of pro- NDC newspaper GhanaianLens and Nii Doodoo, who is believed to be in the camp of the president.

Even though President Mahama has denied supporting anyone in the contest, it is believed he is backing candidates like Kofi Portuphy, a vice chairperson, to unseat Dr Kwabena Adjei as national chairman; Kofi Adams and Kojo Adu Asare who is seeking to become one of the deputy general secretaries of the party.

Bribery
Dr Kwabena Adjei has not hidden his resentment against the practice of delegates being bribed to vote for certain candidates and in a certain direction, wondering how a so-called social democratic party has suddenly allowed right wing elements to hijack the party, with money virtually becoming the deciding factor. Kofi Portuphy, who is the National Coordinator the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), has been accused of sharing relief items, including rice, cooking oil, roofing sheets and bags of cement in addition to cash, to delegates to solicit their votes.

Asiedu Nketia, who spoke on Adom FM yesterday, said some of those allegations had come to his attention for which he had cause to confront the President and the Chief of Staff, Prosper Bani, whose names had been associated with the bribery allegation.

He even said chits for the allocation of seized vehicles had been given to some of the delegates in exchange for votes.

The brazen use of money had compelled pro- NDC newspaper The Informer, which is published by former presidential spokesperson and deputy general secretary aspirant, Koku Anyidoho, to devote an entire editorial space to attack the presidency accused of working against people who used to work with the late President Mills. Anyidoho himself, who is not sure of winning the position, is said to be playing on the Mills card to get sympathy votes.

In a repeated editorial of the paper yesterday, The Informer did not mince words in stating that 'We know how certain persons within the corridors of power are seriously trying to induce and are splashing money around to buy delegates to vote against Yaw Boateng Gyan, Ludwig Hlodze and Solomon Nkansah; but it will not work.

'Those 'strangers' at the Flagstaff House who are destroying the NDC and President John Dramani Mahama should know that the NDC delegates are discerning and shall not be 'foolishly' swayed by 'filthy' money that is being thrown around per revelations from their own preferred aspirants.' It insisted that the NDC is not for sale.

Ludwig is already down as he lost miserably in the youth election two weeks ago to Sidi Abubakar, believed to be the president's candidate.

The use of money has also enraged a chairmanship candidate, Dan Abokakpi.

Though he refused to mention names for the sake of party unity, he disclosed on Kapital Radio that some of the candidates were expending huge amounts of money on their campaign to ensure that they win at all cost.

Mr Abodakpi, who termed the unfortunate development as 'Moneycracy,' was of the view that the current trend posed a threat to the NDC if unchecked on time, noting that money politics used to be alien to them.

He asked where those that were spending colossal amounts of money on their campaign were deriving their monies from. 'Some few years ago this party was struggling to even pay our agents,' he recalled.

Mr Abodakpi added that he was surprised that suddenly the party which was cash-strapped could now have candidates that were expending big monies to get elected into national executive positions.

But indications are that by the close of polls today, the scales are likely to tilt in favour of the Mahama team - comprising Kofi Portuphy, Kofi Adams, Kojo Adu-Asare, George Lawson for deputy general secretary, Nii Doodoo, Kobby Fiagbe for propaganda secretary, with Asiedu Nketia retaining his position.

No Speeches
Meanwhile, the party will not allow candidates to deliver speeches to the delegates before voting starts. Asiedu Nketia made this known during a press conference at the Baba Yara Stadium yesterday.

He stated that that was going to be the first time the party had decided to ban candidates from making speeches at congress, stressing that the decision was reached due to a number of reasons.

General Mosquito disclosed that a staggering 70 people are contesting for 23 positions, with 3,359 delegates including external branches of the NDC casting their ballot on the day, adding that if all the 70 candidates were allowed to make speeches, it would delay the programme unduly.

According to him, the candidate's names and their numbers on the ballot papers would be announced to the delegates before voting starts.

The NDC chief scribe said that some selected top people including the NDC founder, Jerry John Rawlings and President Mahama would be allowed to address the delegates and guests.

BY Charles Takyi-Boadu & I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi

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