General Ntontom Leads Zu-za To The 2024 Battle

“We are prepared to sacrifice everything and I mean everything including our lives to achieve victory… Wherever impunity becomes law, resistance becomes a duty. Looking at the array of executives elected today, I have no doubt the party wants us to carry the battle to the elephant. We cannot let the country, and we cannot let the party down.”

Those were the exact words of General Ntontom during his victory speech as new National Chairman of the eagle-headed Umbrella. He won a landslide victory to oust the incumbent Samuel Ofosu Ampofo after a bitter and acrimonious campaign. As expected, he called for unity in the party for an onward march to the battlefield in 2024.

What surprised me, however, was General Ntontom’s claim that he cherished the friendship between him and the defeated incumbent and would not take it for granted. That claim is laughable because no good friend will ridicule and lampoon a friend as General Ntontom did to Chairman Ampofo during the campaign. Chairman Ampofo may publicly pretend to forgive him for the sake of the Umbrella. But trust me, when I say, he will never ever trust General Ntontom again.

The General Secretary position also saw a fierce contest among three heavyweights in the party. But Fifi Fiavi Kwettey won a landslide victory as he beat Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor and Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, aka Mr. Chooboi, to second and third positions respectively. What this means is that Otokunor has failed in his bid to succeed his former boss as General Secretary. The country will miss his trademark beret hat and his comic antics at the next presidential balloting in 2024.

As for Mr. Chooboi’s defeat, the least said about it, the better. He was snubbed by the delegates because the Brazil 2014 baggage is too heavy for the party to carry. The delegates still remember the profligate and wanton expenditure under his watch at the football mundial in Brazil. It is obvious that the crocodile tears he shed at the Dzamefe Commission have done little to clear his soiled hands.

My friend Torgbui Titriku II couldn’t hide his excitement at the election of Fifi as General Secretary. He says Fifi brings excellence, efficiency, competence, discipline, toughness and the Dr. Boom factor to the table. Whatever Torgbui means by the Dr. Boom factor I do not know. But I know one thing for sure, Fifi is going to give the Elephant a run for its money. I still remember his “setting the records straight” press conferences which threw dust in the eyes of the electorate and contributed to the Elephant’s defeat in 2008.

I have heard some say that with Twi dominating the airwaves, his inability to speak Twi may be a problem. I honestly don’t see that as a problem. His fluency, oratory and penchant for propaganda will aid him to perform well as General Secretary. His strategic skills will also come in handy in the performance of his duties as the CEO of the Umbrella.

Rather, what could be his nemesis is his confession during his 2009 vetting as Deputy Finance Minister nominee that most of the allegations he made were without basis. His confession, coupled with the average voter’s enlightenment, may make many voters take any allegation he now makes with a pinch of salt. And that could spell doom for him and his party.

Foul-mouthed Joseph Yammin also escaped unscathed in the National Organiser contest. He beat incumbent Joseph Akamba and five others to win the position. With abrasive Sammy Gyamfi maintaining his position as Communication Officer, and another foul-mouthed person as Women’s Organiser, one cannot help but expect a very toxic political campaign in the 2024 elections. The Elephant has been forewarned!

The 2024 election promises to be an interesting one. Let me, at this juncture, congratulate both the winners and the defeated aspirants for stepping up to the plate.

See you next week for another interesting konkonsa, Deo volente!