NDC Office In Ashanti Region Awash With Posters

The newly constructed Ashanti Regional National Democratic Congress (NDC) office and its surroundings are awashed with posters of both regional and national aspirants seeking to contest various positions of the party. So far, 67 members of the NDC have filed their nominations to contest the 17 regional positions. Every space, wall, tree and even rooftop have had their share of posters depicting the name; positions, pictures and qualities of various candidates. The aspirants are waiting to be vetted and proceed with elections; however the process has been stalled due to a legal action filed by Mr Linus Njonolah, a member of the party in the region, who is challenging the capacity of the current executive of the party because he claimed they had overstayed their four-year term in office. Among other reliefs he is seeking from the court is the declaration of the entire guidelines put together by the National Executive Committee (NEC) to regulate the elections of the party executives as ultra vires to the powers of the NEC. The adjourned date for the hearing of the case at the Kumasi High Court is today October 10, 2014. In August this year, the party set up a strict timetable to ensure that by October 5, 2014, it would have completed all its branch, constituency and regional elections. The Regional Secretary of the NDC, Mr Raymond Tandoh, told the Daily Graphic that as a law-abiding political party, it would wait for the court processes to be completed even though it would come at a great cost. He said but for the unfortunate truncation of the process by the court case, everything would have been completed for the elections to be held. �As it stands now, we are ready. Immediately the court hurdle is removed we will move straight to action, vet the aspirants and hold the regional elections,� he said. Vetting Committee Already the party has set up a five-member vetting committee made up of one national officer and four regional officers. This same committee will be in charge of the elections. Aspirants The incumbent Regional Chairman, Mr Yaw Obimpeh, is being challenged by Mr T. K. Braimah, Frank Mensah and Dominic Anonal. For the positions of the two vice chairmen, the nine people contesting are Samuel Attivor, Kassim Adjei, Akwesi Aboagye, Kofi Rashid, T. A. Ashimah, Muntari Kassim, Augustus Andrews, Kojo Ration Coffie and Peter Osei Bossia. Obeng Adu Twum and Rashid Hassan are challenging Alhaji Sam Abdullai who is the sitting Regional Organiser. Mr Raymond Tandoh, the current Regional Secretary, is battling out the position with Mr Mike Amedior. For the Deputy Regional Secretary, four persons have filed their nominations. They are Godwin Dela, Kwame Zu Musah, Degraft Coleman and Samuel Pinkrah.