Kuranchie urges Central NDC to give Mills another victory
The former Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) Managing Director, Dr. B. Y. Kuranchie, has called on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters in the Central Region to work hard and deliver massive victory for the party in the 2012 elections.
Speaking at the Central Regional Delegates' Congress on Saturday at Ajumako, Dr. Kuranchie, described as one of the bankrollers of the NDC, said the people of the region should know that for over 50 years of independence, this was the first time a native of the region has risen to the Presidency, and thus called for total support for President John Evans Atta Mills in the 2012 election.
“You know that God gave us this victory and we should not forget him in every aspect of our lives”, he said, explaining that they should stop practices that would undermine the forward march of the NDC in the region.”
Dr. Kuranchie, who is now National Investment Bank (NIB) boss and chairman of COCOBOD, said if Central Region gives the Law and Economics Professor the needed support, it would give other region increased confidence in the man.
The National Organizer of the party, who also doubles as the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, gave a vivid picture about the state of Ghana before NDC took office in January 2009.
According to him, the situation was nothing to write home about and that the visit of United States of America President - Barack Obama - to Ghana was to enable him see the state of the Ghanaian economy.
He said the situation about Ghana's economy had now become stabilized with inflation coming down to 16.92 % and that next year people will see real economic growth. He said the country was going through moral and spiritual healing, and that it was not a mere coincidence that Kwame Pianim, a renowned NPP activist and Economist, described President Mills as an incorruptible leader.
“I want to give you hope that the future is bright for Ghana under the leadership of President Mills and we will draft policies that can withstand the test of time in providing permanent jobs for the people,” he stated, drawing large applause from Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives and MPs who attended the function.
He said foot soldiers of the party would enjoy and that they have not been settled yet because things are bad in the first year. According to him, President Mills will use the rule of law to pay all mobilization staff who were wrongfully dismissed by the previous administration.
Mr. Ampofo advised NDC members to desist from washing their dirty linen in public and referred them to NPP members, saying, NPP members would have preferred being in power now and fighting, rather than being in opposition.
The Transport Minister and MP for Effutu, Hon. Mike Allen Hammah, said the party would never underestimate the contribution made by the foot soldiers because some of them sold their property to support the party.
Central Regional Minister, Mrs. Ama Benyiwa Doe, paid tribute to the founding members of the party in the region and asked them to use their experience to support the party. She therefore called on the party supporters to uphold the tenets of the NDC by refraining from bribing people during elections.
The Dean of Central Region Parliamentary Caucus, Mr. George Kuntu Blankson, calmed the NDC supporters and revealed that the NDC Parliamentarians were planning to put up a regional office as well as constituency offices, where party activists would be employed to man them.
Trade and Industry Minister, Ms Hannah Tetteh, called on the supporters to eschew divisive tendencies that have the power to affect the party's fortunes in the 2012 election.
The election itself, which was nearly disturbed by Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN) branches in the region, saw a Cape Coast based legal practitioner, Mr. Samuel Adu Yeboah, beating his opponent, Dr. Don Arthur to replace Samuel Vallis Akyianu, as regional chairman.
Other executives are Secretary, Kow Anyanful; Propaganda Secretary, Ben Allotey Jacobs; Organiser, Patrick Aniagyei, who went unopposed. The rest are Harriet Atta Arkorful, Treasurer, Akua Sam, Deputy Secretary, Nana Osiebe, deputy Propaganda Secretary and Abeiku Aggrey, deputy Organiser, while Prof. Samuel M. Quartey and Samuel Graham Wilberforce were elected first and second vice chairmen respectively.
Meanwhile, Samuel Ato Amoah narrowly retained his position as regional Youth Organiser when he beat Martin Luther with a single vote in a 22-21 battle on Thursday. Ernestina Owusu Frempong and Akua Swanzy were elected region Women's Organiser and deputy respectively.
In his acceptance remarks, Mr. Adu Yeboah said he would use his experience as a party cadre to gain more votes in 2012.
Meanwhile Nana Konadu Agyemang and Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, who are vying for Vice Chairman positions at the national level, were there to campaign for votes.