THE Ashanti Regional for the first time, is hosting the National delegate conference of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). The event is scheduled for the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi today.
The region, the stronghold of the NPP, has never had the opportunity to host the party’s national conference except the delegates conference of 2004 in Kumasi when then president John Agyekum Kufuor endorsed Alhaji Aliu Mahama as vice presidential candidate for the second term.
The conference comes after several postponement due to legal wrangle that appeared to have divided the party’s hierarchy in the Ashanti Region, along the Alan and Akuffo Addo’s perceived factions.
About 5000 delegates are expected to gather at the Baba Yara Stadium.
Thirty-four candidates have filed their nominations to contest the eight executive positions that are up for graps.
The conference will elect the officers steer the affairs of the party, for the next four years.
The positions are: Vice Nationals chairman, first and second National chairman, General Secretary, national organizer, youth organizer, women’s organizer and nation treasurer.
Five persons will be gunning for the national chairmanship position, but with the incumbent, Peter Mac Manu not contesting Jake Obetsebi Lamptey and Stephen Ayesu Ntim have emerged as the front runners for that position.
Other contenders are Charles Wereko-Brobby, Felix Owusu Adjapong, former majority leader and Sammy Crabbe, former Greater Accra Regional party chairman.
Eight contestants are vying for the vice-chairmanship position with five persons chasing for the General Secretary position.
They are, the incumbent Nana Ohene Ntow, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, Capt. (Rtd) Kwame Nkrabveah Effah-Dartey, Obeng Busia and Yaw Boaben Asamoa.
Three people are gunning for the National Organiser position. They are Alhaji Moctar Musa Bamba, Isaac Edumadze and John Boadu each of whom is battle ready for the kill.
For the Women’s Organiser job, it is a straight fight between the experienced Madam Christine Churcher and newcomer Otiko Afisa Djaba.
For the National Youth Organiser race, another interesting battlefield are Anthony Abaryifa Karbo, Stephen Amoah, Pius Hadzide and Michael Ampong.
The Vice chairperson position, delegates will have a tall list of eight names to choose from.
They include Sophia Horner-Sam, Edward Collins Boateng, Sheikh T.B. Damba, Amadu Kaleem and Rita Asobayire, Fred Oware, and Baaba Otoo and Michael Oamar Wadie.
Reports reaching the Times indicate that all 34 candidates vying for the nine positions are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to maximize votes when delegates line up to cast their ballot.
However one report says Kofi Osei-Ameyaw has dropped for Esther Ofori for the position of Treasurer. If that happens then it will be a mere endorsement for the latter.
The reports, also speak of some presidential aspirants supporting some candidates and are in talks for proposed executive teams. This has raised some concerned among part members.
Some members of the party are circulating a list of the so-called preferred candidates to occupy various national positions.
Party sympathizers who have been sharing thoughts on radio stations on the decision to host the congress in Kumasi have hailed the national council of the party with Mr Joseph Antoh Ashanti Regional Party chairman describing it as very historic.
A die-hard party delegate, who did not want his name to be mentioned said the decision would rekindle the spirit in the party in the region.
As at the time of filing this report, there was no party event at the Baba Yara Stadium, venue for the conference, the fact that the Inter-Colleges and Schools event is on-going.
Kwadwo B. Donkor, Kumasi reports from Kumasi that at press time yesterday, with the exception of some few posters and banners and some of the contestants who were there to ensure that their banners were placed at vantage points, there was not much activity at the place as compared to the last congress of the party held in Accra at the University of Ghana.
A sympathizer of the party, Akwasi Osei, told this reporter that as a party in opposition, the NPP will need someone who will stay with it through thick and thin and not someone who “comes and goes whenever it pleases him.”
Nana Ohene Ntow, the incumbent National General Secretary is seeking re-election and will be battling it out with four other candidates, all eyeing the seat, considered the hottest among all the positions.
They are Capt. Nkrabeah Effah Dartey, former MP for Brekum, Yaw Asamoah Buaben, an anti corruption crusader and former aide to the vice President Aliu Mahama. The rest are Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, also known as Sir John, a Kumasi based legal practitioner and Obeng Busia, who will also be laying claim to the legacy of his uncle, Kofi Abrefa Busia, co-founder of the Dombo-Danquah-Busia tradition, now metamorphosed into NPP.
The position of the women organizer is a straight fight between Otiko Afisa Djaba and Ms. Christine Churher, three times MP for Cape Coast and a former Deputy Minister for Education in charge of Basic and Girl-Child education. Though some believe that the young and energetic Otiko will give Churher a run for her money, others are of the view that the position needs a more mature person with experience to galvanize and organize the women into a formidable force to enable the party to come out of opposition.
Today’s congress will see virtually an overhauling of the old executives as new lease of leaders will be voted into position. With the exception of Nana Ohene Ntow who is seeking reelection to maintain his position, the rest of the old executives standing for election are rather ‘moving ahead.’ So is the case of John Boadu, who is seeking the mandate of the over 4000 delegates to make him the National Organizer, a position held by Lord Commey, the incumbent, for two terms.
In all close to 4,400 voting delegates, will today converge at the VIP wing of the stadium, the venue for the congress to elect new leaders to steer the affairs of the party for the next four years.
This number, however, excludes special guests of the party who will grace the occasion.
Speaking to the “Times,” the Ashanti Regional Secretary of NPP, Samuel Payne, gave the assurance that the preparation will be done before today for a smooth congress.
“We are not mounting any platform, just hanging of banners and maybe posters, that is all and this should not take much time,” he said.
According to him, the total number of delegates including the guests of the party should not exceed 5,000 and was hopeful that the congress will be done by the close of day today.
The positions to be contested for are the National Chairman, the Vice National Chairman, General Secretary, National Organizer, Youth Organizer, National Treasurer and the national NASARA club chairman.
Vying for the national chairman position of the party are Sammy Crabbe, immediate past Greater Accra Chairman, Felix Kwasi Owusu-Adjepong, former Member of Parliament for Akyem-Swedru and Majority Leader of Parliament; Jacob O. Obetsebi-Lamptey, another former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NPP and three times campaign manager for the party; Fed Oware.
The region, the stronghold of the NPP, has never had the opportunity to host the party’s national conference except the delegates conference of 2004 in Kumasi when then president John Agyekum Kufuor endorsed Alhaji Aliu Mahama as vice presidential candidate for the second term.
The conference comes after several postponement due to legal wrangle that appeared to have divided the party’s hierarchy in the Ashanti Region, along the Alan and Akuffo Addo’s perceived factions.
About 5000 delegates are expected to gather at the Baba Yara Stadium.
Thirty-four candidates have filed their nominations to contest the eight executive positions that are up for graps.
The conference will elect the officers steer the affairs of the party, for the next four years.
The positions are: Vice Nationals chairman, first and second National chairman, General Secretary, national organizer, youth organizer, women’s organizer and nation treasurer.
Five persons will be gunning for the national chairmanship position, but with the incumbent, Peter Mac Manu not contesting Jake Obetsebi Lamptey and Stephen Ayesu Ntim have emerged as the front runners for that position.
Other contenders are Charles Wereko-Brobby, Felix Owusu Adjapong, former majority leader and Sammy Crabbe, former Greater Accra Regional party chairman.
Eight contestants are vying for the vice-chairmanship position with five persons chasing for the General Secretary position.
They are, the incumbent Nana Ohene Ntow, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, Capt. (Rtd) Kwame Nkrabveah Effah-Dartey, Obeng Busia and Yaw Boaben Asamoa.
Three people are gunning for the National Organiser position. They are Alhaji Moctar Musa Bamba, Isaac Edumadze and John Boadu each of whom is battle ready for the kill.
For the Women’s Organiser job, it is a straight fight between the experienced Madam Christine Churcher and newcomer Otiko Afisa Djaba.
For the National Youth Organiser race, another interesting battlefield are Anthony Abaryifa Karbo, Stephen Amoah, Pius Hadzide and Michael Ampong.
The Vice chairperson position, delegates will have a tall list of eight names to choose from.
They include Sophia Horner-Sam, Edward Collins Boateng, Sheikh T.B. Damba, Amadu Kaleem and Rita Asobayire, Fred Oware, and Baaba Otoo and Michael Oamar Wadie.
Reports reaching the Times indicate that all 34 candidates vying for the nine positions are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to maximize votes when delegates line up to cast their ballot.
However one report says Kofi Osei-Ameyaw has dropped for Esther Ofori for the position of Treasurer. If that happens then it will be a mere endorsement for the latter.
The reports, also speak of some presidential aspirants supporting some candidates and are in talks for proposed executive teams. This has raised some concerned among part members.
Some members of the party are circulating a list of the so-called preferred candidates to occupy various national positions.
Party sympathizers who have been sharing thoughts on radio stations on the decision to host the congress in Kumasi have hailed the national council of the party with Mr Joseph Antoh Ashanti Regional Party chairman describing it as very historic.
A die-hard party delegate, who did not want his name to be mentioned said the decision would rekindle the spirit in the party in the region.
As at the time of filing this report, there was no party event at the Baba Yara Stadium, venue for the conference, the fact that the Inter-Colleges and Schools event is on-going.
Kwadwo B. Donkor, Kumasi reports from Kumasi that at press time yesterday, with the exception of some few posters and banners and some of the contestants who were there to ensure that their banners were placed at vantage points, there was not much activity at the place as compared to the last congress of the party held in Accra at the University of Ghana.
A sympathizer of the party, Akwasi Osei, told this reporter that as a party in opposition, the NPP will need someone who will stay with it through thick and thin and not someone who “comes and goes whenever it pleases him.”
Nana Ohene Ntow, the incumbent National General Secretary is seeking re-election and will be battling it out with four other candidates, all eyeing the seat, considered the hottest among all the positions.
They are Capt. Nkrabeah Effah Dartey, former MP for Brekum, Yaw Asamoah Buaben, an anti corruption crusader and former aide to the vice President Aliu Mahama. The rest are Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, also known as Sir John, a Kumasi based legal practitioner and Obeng Busia, who will also be laying claim to the legacy of his uncle, Kofi Abrefa Busia, co-founder of the Dombo-Danquah-Busia tradition, now metamorphosed into NPP.
The position of the women organizer is a straight fight between Otiko Afisa Djaba and Ms. Christine Churher, three times MP for Cape Coast and a former Deputy Minister for Education in charge of Basic and Girl-Child education. Though some believe that the young and energetic Otiko will give Churher a run for her money, others are of the view that the position needs a more mature person with experience to galvanize and organize the women into a formidable force to enable the party to come out of opposition.
Today’s congress will see virtually an overhauling of the old executives as new lease of leaders will be voted into position. With the exception of Nana Ohene Ntow who is seeking reelection to maintain his position, the rest of the old executives standing for election are rather ‘moving ahead.’ So is the case of John Boadu, who is seeking the mandate of the over 4000 delegates to make him the National Organizer, a position held by Lord Commey, the incumbent, for two terms.
In all close to 4,400 voting delegates, will today converge at the VIP wing of the stadium, the venue for the congress to elect new leaders to steer the affairs of the party for the next four years.
This number, however, excludes special guests of the party who will grace the occasion.
Speaking to the “Times,” the Ashanti Regional Secretary of NPP, Samuel Payne, gave the assurance that the preparation will be done before today for a smooth congress.
“We are not mounting any platform, just hanging of banners and maybe posters, that is all and this should not take much time,” he said.
According to him, the total number of delegates including the guests of the party should not exceed 5,000 and was hopeful that the congress will be done by the close of day today.
The positions to be contested for are the National Chairman, the Vice National Chairman, General Secretary, National Organizer, Youth Organizer, National Treasurer and the national NASARA club chairman.
Vying for the national chairman position of the party are Sammy Crabbe, immediate past Greater Accra Chairman, Felix Kwasi Owusu-Adjepong, former Member of Parliament for Akyem-Swedru and Majority Leader of Parliament; Jacob O. Obetsebi-Lamptey, another former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NPP and three times campaign manager for the party; Fed Oware.
