All 76 persons who filed nominations to contest the Greater Accra Regional executive positions on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have successfully gone through vetting.
The number, made up of 66 males and 10 females, are now ready to face their destinies when the party conducts its regional polls slated for Saturday, September 1, 2018.
The balloting for positions has already taken place and aspirants have hit the campaign ground, selling their messages to the electorate.
The contestants
Giving the breakdown of the various positions to be contested, a member of the Greater Accra Regional Elections Committee, Mr Baba Mikail said four persons were vying for the chairmanship slot and they were the incumbent, Kobina Ade Coker, Yahya Kundow, Daniel Amartey Mensah and Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore.
Those contesting for position of vice chairman are Daniel Rex Wussah, William Vinyo, Billy M. Tahiru, George Tetteh Wayoe, Gifty Emefa Sika Nartey, Ibrahim Jajah, Abdul Basit Mohammed and Mohammed Bashiru Nii Narh Alema.
The four people contesting the position of secretary are Victor Abdul Satarh Quarshie Adonoo, Theophilus Tetteh Chaie, Aristo Nii Aryee and Lois A.K. Tettey.
For the position of deputy secretary, the six contestants are Patricia Naa Akuyea Addy, Augustine Nii Amoah Nai, Baba Abu Abdullai, Emmanuel Azubila Salan, Mark Daniel Adodo and Rakim Derek.
The position of organiser will be a slug out between Anthony Nukpenu, Derrick Myers, Humphrey Tetteh Mensah and Maxwell Ofotsu Amevor.
Fierce battle
A fierce contest is expected for the position of deputy organiser where eight people are vying for the position. They are Dickson Mawuko Lekey, Gambo Abdullai Zam-Atu, Habel Kwasi Adjei, Isaac Mensah, Jonas Jesse Narh, Joshua Bortey Alabi, Gabriel Lucky Ocansey and Richard Eyram Dogbey.
The four persons vying for the position of treasurer are Alhaji Seidu Haruna, Rabbon Kwashie Dodoo, Regina Samiratu Akunkel and Solomon Nii Aflah Barnor.
For the deputy treasurer position, Nubyl Kakra Vanlare, John Nurudeen Ahortu, Abagna Raphael, Mary Akromah and Mohammed Norgan will slug it out.
For the position of communication officer, four persons namely Jerry Johnson, Latif Osman, Samuel Ablordeppey and Gabby Asumin have readied themselves for the contest.
Position with highest contestants
The position with the highest contestants is that of the deputy communications officer which is being vied for by 10 personalities. They are Frank Nii Dua, George Acheampong, Gideon Tettey Tetteh, Nana Adubea Koranteng, Simon Kwaku Tetteh, Spinnoza K. A. Aboah, Thomas Addy, Tony Addison Dodoo, Isaac Lartey and Maurice D. K. Mawugbe.
Felicia Mekpoi Bortey and Lucy Rio Sebbie will battle it out for the position of women’s organiser while Hajia Habiba Muah Osman, Happy Amegashie, Jessica Patience Braimah, Bridget Gordon and Alimatu M. Issah will contest for the position of deputy women’s organiser.
The three persons vying for youth organiser are Thomas Mustapha Ashong, Solomon Nii Afutu Quartey, and Emmanuel Sorgbey.
For deputy youth organiser, Amos Blessing Amorse, Anas Abdullai, Charles Gben, David Kumi Addo, Mohammed Abdul Muqmin, Mohammed Kabiru and Wisdom Yao Yamenui are the contestants.
The position for the Zongo Caucus co-ordinator will be a straight fight between Mohammed Ashkar and Ismaila Horoya Ali.
Briefing
Mr Mikail, told the Daily Graphic that the region opened nominations from July 16 to 18, 2018 and that in all, 90 persons had picked up nominations forms following which July 23 to 24, 2018 was fixed for filing of nominations.
He recounted that at the end of the duration, 76 individuals had filed their nominations and consequently went ahead to avail themselves of the vetting process which took place from August 1 to 3, 2018.
According to Mr Mikail, a vetting committee was appointed by the national office of the party chaired by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Pusiga, Mr Lardy Ayamba.
Rules of engagement
Mr Ayamba, in his address to the aspirants reminded them that the exercise was an internal party activity that ought to be undertaken with decency.
He, therefore, cautioned against a campaign of insults and vilification, stressing that any action that deviated from the greater goals of party unity and cohesion must be avoided at all costs.
He reminded them that what they were about to do was to elect a number of people to serve the party and that at the end of the day when the party was victorious in the 2020 elections, it would be a victory for all members of the party and not just the elected officials.
He, therefore, urged them to come out of the contest stronger and united such that those who would lose would work in concert with the elected ones towards ensuring that Elections 2020 delivered victory to the party.