As a former Minister for Youth and Sports, he emphasized the NDC’s dedication to safeguarding Ghana’s environment, particularly its forests and water bodies.
Afriyie Ankrah cautioned party members against engaging in illegal mining, stressing that such actions would not be tolerated under an NDC administration.
“We need to suspend all galamsey activities for at least one year to give our water bodies and forest reserves breathing space to recover. I investigated the GYEEDA Scandal with an independent body and I can promise that any member of my party who engages in galamsey will be investigated and prosecuted,” he told Nana Kwadwo Jantuah on Nhyira FM on Thursday.
He advocated for a one-year suspension of all galamsey activities to allow the environment to recover.
He also highlighted his role in the investigation of the GYEEDA scandal and assured that any NDC member involved in illegal mining would face investigation and prosecution.
He criticized the current government for its inadequate response to the galamsey issue, alleging that it has been exacerbated by a deliberate effort to worsen the situation.
“Nana Addo’s government over the past eight years has failed to sufficiently combat this galamsey menace because it is a deliberate and organised scheme to make it worse. He refused to act on several reports on illegal mining; an example is that of Professor Frimpong Boateng.
“The president ignored all the reports because a lot of his appointees are reported to have been involved in the illegality,” he said.
He accused President Nana Addo of neglecting numerous reports on illegal mining, including one by Professor Frimpong Boateng, due to involvement by some of his appointees in these activities.
Afriyie Ankrah suggested that the failure to address illegal mining should be a compelling reason for voters to reject the ruling NPP, pointing out the threat galamsey poses to livelihoods and the environment.
“Any Ghanaian who has no reason to vote against this government should look at galamsey which is a threat to their livelihood,” he stated.
Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah,has voiced his displeasure with the Black Stars players from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, criticising them over financial disagreements.
Ankrah condemned the players for their refusal to participate in training until their bonuses were paid, accusing them of trying to damage the officials’ reputations internationally.
He has called on these players to repay the money to the government, citing their failure to advance past the group stage as a reason for their financial obligations.
“Let’s assume the money will be paid because the nation has never owed players; no matter how long it takes, it will eventually be paid. Why should you insist on not training and even miss two training sessions? Isn’t that sabotage?
“Then they took the money; they should refund the bloody money back to us. When they returned, there were no sanctions or enquiries, so that attitude persisted for seven years,” Ankrah said in Twi during an interview with Oyerepa FM.
Ghana’s national team did not advance past the group stage in the 2014 tournament, securing only one point from three matches.
Tensions rose before the final group game when players demanded $100,000 each in appearance fees, leading to threats of a boycott. This forced the government to arrange a direct flight to Brazil to resolve the issue.
Reports indicated that the main issue was the players’ demand for $100,000 in appearance fees, while the government offered $82,500.
When the players refused to train, the government had to meet their demands and provide cash, resulting in missed training sessions and ultimately,the team’s poor performance.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, a member of the NDC Manifesto Committee, has highlighted a significant increase in Ghana’s public debt, which rose from GHC126 billion in 2016 to GHC740 billion in 2024.
Speaking on Akoma 87.9fm’s M’abato3 program with Sir John on September 10, Ankrah criticized the current NPP administration, labeling the economic conditions as dire.
He argued that the substantial debt increase of GH₵620 billion reflects poor economic management by the NPP government, leading to diminished investor confidence.
“No investor is currently willing to engage with the country,” Ankrah stated.
He urged Ghanaians to reject the NPP in the upcoming December elections, accusing the party of lacking innovative solutions.
Ankrah promised that the NDC would work to restore investor confidence by reducing numerous taxes and continuing the positive developments of the past.
Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has called for a thorough investigation into the current leadership at the Sports Ministry, headed by Mr Mustapha Ussif, citing concerns over potential financial mismanagement and corruption.
In a recent interview with ChannelOne TV, held during the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Manifesto launch in Winneba, Afriyie Ankrah expressed his dismay over the lack of accountability regarding recent financial scandals.
His remarks were particularly pointed following various controversies surrounding Ghana’s involvement in international sports events, such as the 2023 AFCON and the hosting of the 2023 African Games.
A significant point of contention is a reported $3.6 million payment made to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation for coverage of the African Games.
Afriyie Ankrah, who faced intense scrutiny after Ghana’s poor performance in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, voiced his frustration that the current administration has yet to face similar scrutiny despite these financial issues.
“These people, they went to where AFCON, all the mess. Why is it that they have not been investigated? President (John) Mahama investigated me. [I was his campaign manager] Live everybody saw it. Of course they should be investigated.”
A former Director of Elections of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has urged Ghanaians to desist from engaging in any action that would give the New Patriotic Party (NPP) another 4-year term to govern.
He noted that the many promises the NPP made via its present flagbearer, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, to develop the country have not been fulfilled.
Engaging the media ahead of the launch of the 2024 manifesto by the opposition party, he stressed that the ruling party had no credibility and advised its flagbearer, to rescind his decision to contest this year’s election.
Supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are flocking to the University of Education, Winneba, where the party is set to unveil its manifesto for the 2024 elections.
The event, which takes place in Winneba, will draw the top leaders of the NDC as they present their strategic plan under the theme, “Change to Reset Ghana.”
NDC flagbearer John Dramani Mahama has described this manifesto launch as a pivotal moment in the party’s efforts to “reset” the nation, marking the beginning of their journey to address the country’s challenges ahead of the upcoming elections.
He also stated, ahead of the launch, that “We face challenges that have held back for too long, but now, it’s time to build the Ghana we all want together. Join me from Winneba in the Central Region as I unveil a vision for our future that will bring justice, jobs, and prosperity to every corner of our beloved nation, Ghana.”
The former Director of Elections for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has issued a statement to clarify the context of a viral video in which he and other NDC executives swore an oath with a sword.
Ankrah said that the video was recorded in 2020, before the general elections, when he was the Director of Elections for the party. He said that the oath was part of his strategy to ensure that the party’s work was done with integrity and loyalty.
“The said ceremony was arranged at my own behest ahead of the past general elections of 2020 when I was the Director of Elections of our party,” Ankrah said in the statement dated January 18.
He said that he took his role seriously and was committed to serving the party and its members and supporters.
He also dismissed the rumours and reports that the video was related to the party’s current national executives or officials in charge of the 2024 general elections. He said that the video was inaccurate, misleading, and deliberately twisted to suit the agenda of the party’s detractors.
He urged the public to ignore the misinformation and focus on the party’s agenda to win the next elections.
The video, which has been circulating on social media, shows Ankrah and other National Democratic Congress (NDC) officials standing on a white cloth and holding a long, shiny sword, as they take turns to recite the oath.
The oath involves a pledge not to compromise the party’s interests for personal gain in the upcoming elections, with dire consequences if they were to break their vow.
The oath ends with Ankrah saying, “I vow that if I compromise and sell my party out for money for this coming election, may I die and my first child also die in my place. So help me God.”
Ankrah’s statement aims to clear the air on the video and reaffirm his dedication to the NDC.
See video below:
"May I die and my first born also die in my place" if I betray NDC! – Afriyie-Ankrah swears#INDNews Atta Akyea #BlackStars Morocco | Sarkodie | Ghanaians | The NPP | SDA Church | Jordan Ayew | East Legon pic.twitter.com/hYXR7CmYYn
Former Director of Elections for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has cast doubt on the governing New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) capability to secure victory in the upcoming 2024 general elections through lawful methods.
Mr. Ankrah claimed that the NPP would resort to unfair tactics, including bribery and state-sponsored violence, to ensure victory in the upcoming elections.
During an interview on Accra 100.5 FM’s Citizen’s Show hosted by Nana Bobie Ansah on January 10, 2024, Mr Elvis Ankrah expressed doubts about the NPP’s electoral prospects. He suggested that their potential success might involve vote-buying practices and alleged violence against voters, similar to incidents observed during the 2020 general elections.
Mr. Ankrah foresaw challenges for the NPP in securing 45 percent of the total votes. He attributed this potential struggle to what he described as the party’s poor performance over the past seven years and allegations of corruption and nepotism within its ranks.
He also expressed criticism towards the judgment of the 2020 Elections Petition, where the challenge by former President John Dramani Mahama and the NDC against the election results, which declared President Nana Akufo-Addo as the validly elected president, was dismissed.
He characterized the decision of the Supreme Court as a ‘political judgment’ and accused the court of failing the nation.
Despite his respect for the judiciary, Mr. Ankrah claimed that the Supreme Court’s ruling did a disservice to Ghana, insisting that the 2020 elections should have gone to a run-off, given the NDC’s majority in Parliament.
In summary, Afriyie Ankrah cast doubt on the NPP’s ability to win the 2024 elections legitimately, citing concerns about alleged electoral misconduct, corruption, and dissatisfaction with the party’s performance in the run-up to the 2024 elections.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, General Secretary aspirant of the opposition NDC, has described the constant blame of Ghana’s collapsing economy on the war between Russia and Ukraine as “hogwash”.
According to him, Ghana’s economy started collapsing before the war in Russia-Ukraine started so it is not right for anybody to use that as an excuse to tell Ghanaians that things were going on well but the war brought about hardships.
He said, Ghana’s economy should have turned around when it received money from World Bank and IMF during the pandemic but those handling the affairs decided to share the money among themselves.
Afriyie Ankrah speaking on GhanaWeb’s Election Desk programme noted that, the over 23 billion that came into the country was used to buy the 2020 general elections to make sure that the NPP remains in power.
“When we had the energy crisis, was it not due to exogenous factors? Is John Mahama the one to rain into the Akosombo dam?… Was there Russia-Ukraine when this government realised that the cedi was collapsing, set up an economic advisory something with 30 people including Franklin Cudjoe and co…?” he questioned.
“So, the cedi started performing badly long before Russia-Ukraine. Now, look at the Auditor-General’s report, look at the infractions; at the time we were leaving office in 2016, the cumulative infractions for that year was about 957 million cedis – which for us was horrible – from that time [till now] what are the infractions according to Auditor-General’s report; was it Russia-Ukraine?
“Was it Russia-Ukraine that caused us to have these infractions? Was it Russia-Ukraine that came and made Ken Ofori-Atta that any time we go for Eurobond he…benefits from those transactions such that he goes to the Euro market with that thinking because his company benefits?
“This is complete hogwash. These Russia-Ukraine here and there is complete hogwash. Before Russia-Ukraine came, all the fundamentals started going down.” Elvis Afriyie Ankrah told Edward Smith Anamale.
He continued: “Indeed, the World Bank and IMF warned us that the way we were going about collecting loans was unsustainable and we will get here. Was it Russia-Ukraine that caused us to go and borrow 13 billion cedis… in any case, Ghana benefited from COVID-19…cumulatively over 23 billion came into this economy that should have been a turnaround for this economy.
“You know what they did, they chopped the money; they shared the money…the real root of the problem is that in 2020 these people poured the money and bought the election.”
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah alleged that the Akufo-Addo-led government wanted to win the election at all cost, therefore, they had to be paying people so that they win the elections.
“They paid people, they spent the money; that is the issue that we must face and confront and stop talking about Russia-Ukraine,” he said.
An aspirant for the General Secretary position of the largest opposition party in Ghana, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has cautioned his party members not to think that the general elections of 2024 will be just a walk in the park.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah explained that if people are of the view that the NDC will come by an easy win in the next general elections, then they have failed to understand who their main opponent, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are made of.
Speaking to GhanaWeb’s Edward Smith Anamale on Election Desk, the former Director of Elections of the NDC indicated that it would be a great deceit for people to think his party would easily win the general polls of 2024.
“I have a vision, I have a track-record, I have experience. The 2024 elections is not going to be that easy the way people are making it look like we’ve won already (sic), no. I know the NPP and if you don’t know the NPP then you’d be deceiving yourself; I know them very well,” he said.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, who is also a former Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, further put himself forward as the right candidate to help the party go head-to-head with the NPP and win.
This, he said, is because he understands the dynamics of their game better and can therefore, bring his experiences to bear, ensuring that the NDC gets a deserved win.
“And so, you’d need somebody who is tough, who is seasoned, who understands them, who has been at the battle front before and who has done it with the track-record and that is where I come in. And that’s my message to the delegates,” he said.
The aspirant also spoke about a number of other issues, including his assessments of the performance of the incumbent NPP government as compared to what the erstwhile NDC government did.
An aspiring General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has responded to questions on whether he will be able to adequately fill in the shoes of the longest-serving General Secretary of his party, Asiedu Nketiah.
According to him, there is no doubt that the position Nketiah has held over the years comes with a large task; however, he is eager to contribute his bit to the party’s future.
Speaking in the yet-to-be-aired second part of his interview with GhanaWeb TV’s Election Desk, the former Director of Elections of the party acknowledged the immense work that the party’s outgoing Chief Executive Officer has done over the period.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah described Asiedu Nketiah as a peculiar character who has paid his dues.
“I think we must give credit where it is due. Having held that position for 17 years; which led to two electoral victories and, of course, two defeats, I think that he has paid his dues. He’s a peculiar character, somebody that I get along with very well; the same way that I get along with the National Chairman also. I’ve worked with both of them very very closely.
“I think that there’s a lot to learn from him, but we are also building an NDC for the future. I believe in learning lessons from the [past], looking at the present, and forging a way forward,” he said.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, who is also a former Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, stated that while it appears that should he win the race to be the party’s CEO, he would be left with a huge responsibility of filling a big shoe, he would do things differently.
He explained that, rather, he would come to the job with his own shoes and execute the job accordingly.
“So, somebody asked me if I was going to fill his shoes; can I fill his shoes? I said no. I love General’s shoes – beautiful shoes (figuratively), but I’ll wear my own shoes,” he added.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah had just finished reading a Master’s degree course in International Relations and was hoping that he would receive a callback from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to start his dream job with them.
And as is the case for most young graduates, the urge to experience working in any environment that presented him with much more made his hopes even greater.
But Elvis Ankrah said something that jolted his dream sideways and put that long-time dream on permanent hold.
And it all started when he was approached by one of the stalwarts of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ato Ahwoi, to take up an unusual job: a spokesperson for a presidential candidate.
The job was for him to deputise as a spokesperson for the late former president of Ghana, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, who was by then campaigning to become Head of State.
He explained to GhanaWeb TV’s Edward Smith Anamale that when that call came through, it was not one of the things on his mind.
“I went to do my Masters in International Relations and when I came back, I was on the verge of… I’d actually gone to ECOWAS to put in an application for a job and I was expecting a response because I had spoken with Dr. Chambas and all that, and then Mr Ato Ahwoi called me and said he wanted me to be the deputy campaign spokesperson for Prof Mills’ presidential primaries.
“It was a very difficult decision to make: go to ECOWAS, go and earn some good dollars because I studied international relations so that had been my interest; to work with an international agency: ECOWAS, AU or the United Nations, so local politics was not part of my plan,” he explained.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, however, explained in the election Desk interview on GhanaWeb TV that after a while, he agreed to take on that job, also because of something profound that Ato Ahwoi said to him.
“And he said, go and do this thing for us, and after several months, I eventually agreed because he told me something: ‘If you go to your ECOWAS or UN and after 15 years you come back to Ghana, don’t you know you’ll be a stranger, and your colleagues would have gone ahead of you? So, what will happen to all the experience you gathered as SRC president and NUGS.
“So, that really got me thinking so I took up the challenge and so, myself, Ludwig and Rojo, we went round with Prof Mills around the whole Ghana. We went to almost every city, town, village – every nook and cranny. It was a very eye-opening experience and that is where I gathered a lot of data and network with the grassroots,” he explained.
An aspirant for the position of General Secretary of the largest opposition party in Ghana, the National Democratic Congress (NDC),Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has given a mental picture of how well-connected he is to the party grassroots.
According to him, his relationship with the ordinary members of the party is such that he constantly keeps in touch with them, a situation that has led to the fact that he currently has over 12,000 contacts on his mobile phone.
He explained 80% of that number are members of the NDC, while he is on about 400 WhatsApp groups.
“… so my phone now, I have about 12,000 contacts on my phone; 80% of them are party people.
“And these are not just people I just know; I know them personally. And, I’m on about 400 platforms and I keep changing my phones almost every six months because the phone gets tired,” he said.
Speaking in an interview on GhanaWeb TV’s Election Desk with Edward Smith Anamale, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, who is also a former Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, recalled how he got into politics.
Describing it as something he didn’t plan, as he had other plans for entering the international world of work, he said his decision changed after he had an interaction with Ato Ahwoi, one of the stalwarts of the NDC party.
“Mr. Ato Ahwoi called me and said he wanted me to be the deputy campaignspokesperson for Prof. Mills’ presidential primaries. It was a very difficult decision to make: go to ECOWAS, go and earn some good dollars because I studied international relations so that had been my interest; to work with an international agency: ECOWAS, AU or the United Nations, so local politics was not part of my plan.
“And he said, go and do this thing for us, and after several months, I eventually agreed because he told me something: ‘If you go to your ECOWAS or UN and after 15 years you come back to Ghana, don’t you know you’ll be a stranger, and your colleagues would have gone ahead of you? So, what will happen to all the experience you gathered as SRC president and NUGS?
“So, that really got me thinking so I took up the challenge and so, myself, Ludwig and Rojo, we went round with Prof Mills around the whole Ghana. We went to almost every city, town, and village – every nook and cranny. It was a very eye-opening experience, and that is where I gathered a lot of data and networked with the grassroots,” he explained.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, a former Director of Elections for the NDC, hopes to fill in the soon-to-be-vacant shoes of the current General Secretary, Asiedu Nketiah.
Former Minister for Youth and Sports, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has noted how several false allegations were made against him following Ghana’s participation in the 2014 FIFA World Cup held in Brazil.
Mr Afriyie Ankrah shared some of the outrageous allegations leveled against him with GhanaWeb’s Edward Smith Anamale on the Election Desk program.
According to him, he was alleged to have put his mother in charge of the sale of replica jerseys, but stated that his mother had absolutely no knowledge of football.
“There were all manner of wild stories. I’d give you just a few. There’s this story that my wife was a caterer… I mean, my wife has absolutely nothing to do with cooking. The only reason she went was because we had buried her mother three weeks earlier. So, I took my wife and my two kids because the other one was in boarding school, and I bought the tickets myself – Air Portugal, and took them. It was not at government expense, but there was the story out there. They said my mother was in charge of replica jerseys. What they didn’t know is that my mother doesn’t live in Ghana; my mother has never lived in Ghana since I was six months old. She doesn’t know the difference between a corner kick and a penalty. She has no idea, so when I told her, ‘Mummy, they said you are in charge of replica jerseys, she said, what is that?’ “She has no idea,” he said.
He shared other allegations made against him but expressed happiness about the report of the Dzamefe Commission, which, according to him, vindicated him.
“I woke up one day and there was one of the papers with me sitting with some ministers, with coconut in front of us. They said coconut was $200, $2000. There was nothing about coconut. I always drink coconut because I’m a health-conscious person, and at the camp, coconut was virtually free. And even if you buy it, it’s less than $1. Nothing; it was all manufactured.”
“It was later that I found out that there were some unseen hands behind it, but I keep saying that if those things hadn’t happened, and especially if the commission hadn’t been put in place and a report officially there, which clearly shows that I was audited by Ernst and Young,… by the time I was leaving office, the World Cup money itself, which the government gave to us, was still in the account,” Afriyie Ankrah, who is vying for
The 2014 World Cup in Brazil saw Ghana get eliminated at the group stage of the competition, but it also came with several camp-related stories, among other stories of corruption allegations.
It remains one of the most intense moments in the country after the country’s national football team, the Black Stars, made their third appearance at the World Cup, which was fraught with a lot of scandals.
The 2014 World Cup in Brazil saw Ghana get eliminated at the group stage of the competition, but it also came with several camp-related stories, among other stories of corruption allegations.
Recalling the moments and some of the happenings during the period, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, who was the Minister of Youth and Sports, explained how he received one of his biggest blessings in disguise.
He explained that, upon the return of the team to the country and the eventual setting up of the Dzamefe Commission to look into the issues surrounding Ghana’s appearance at the Mundial, he got a unique opportunity to understand things better.
In hindsight, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah says he would not advise any politician to consider using state money to send supporters to a soccer tournament like the World Cup.
“With the benefit of hindsight, I probably should have… I should have just left it, and they would have said whatever they wanted to say, and it would have saved me a lot of headaches.
“It’s not worth it and I would advise – and I’ve been saying this that the current minister, in this economic crisis, don’t bother our supporters. If you want to go and watch the World Cup, if you have your own money, get your ticket and go. So, those were the lessons, of course, fortunately, or not, the Commission was a blessing in disguise,” he said.
Speaking to Edward Smith Anamale on GhanaWeb TV’s Election Desk, the aspiring General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) said that it was during the hearings of the Dzamefe Commission that he heard some of the wildest things.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah said that some of the allegations were so wild that they even involved stories that his wife and his mother were also implicit in some purported corrupt practices.
“There were all manner of wild stories. I’d give you just a few. There’s this story that my wife was a caterer… I mean, my wife has absolutely nothing to do with cooking; the only reason she went was because we buried her mother three weeks earlier. So, I took my wife and my two kids because the other one was in boarding school, and I bought the tickets myself –Air Portugal- and took them.
“It was not at government expense but there was the story out there. They said my mother was in charge of replica jerseys. What they didn’t know is that my mother doesn’t live in Ghana; my mother has never lived in Ghana since I was six months old. She doesn’t know the difference between a corner kick and a penalty. She has no idea so when I told her, ‘Mummy, they said you are in charge of replica jerseys, she said what is that?’ she has no idea,” he said.
Elvis Ankrah also recalled how there was news that he had paid about $2000 just for coconuts when, in actual fact, after the Commission’s hearings, it was established that he was not guilty.
He added that by the time he left office as the Minister of Youth and Sports, he was able to leave behind well over $4 million of the money the government gave them to go to the World Cup.
“I woke up one day and there was one of the papers with me sitting with some ministers, with coconut in front of us. They said coconut was $200, $2000. There was nothing about coconut. I drink coconut always because I’m a health-conscious person, and at the camp, coconut was virtually free. And even if you buy it, it’s less than $1. Nothing; it was all manufactured.
“It was later that I got to know that there were some unseen hands behind it but I keep saying that if those things had not happened, and especially if the commission had not been put in place, and a report officially there, which shows clearly I was audited by Ernst and Young… by the time I was leaving office, the World Cup money itself, which government gave to us, $4.444 million was left in the account,” he explained.
A former Minister of Youth and Sports under the erstwhile John Dramani Mahama administration, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has stated that there was never such a thing as Guinea fowls flying out of Ghana.
According to him, the propaganda and exaggerations that have been told around the guinea fowls, which were part of the government’s Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Agency (GYEEDA) initiative, were all false.
Explaining a point to GhanaWeb TV’s Edward Smith Anamale on the Election Desk, the aspirant for the General Secretary position of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) said that they were all untruths.
“So, we actually restructured it but by then, the issues were already there but the focus was on those issues and of course, there were exaggerations; things like guinea fowls flying. There was nothing like that; absolutely nothing like that. Those were some of the exaggerations that occurred,” he explained.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Youth Forum has thrown its weight behind the former director of elections of the party, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, for the party’s general secretary position in the upcoming national executive elections.
In a statement issued by its secretary, Osman Iddrisu Banpuori, the forum said that Afriyie Ankrah through his service to the party has proven that he is the right man for the job.
The group added that Afriyie Ankrah, a former minister for sports, is the only person among the persons who will be contesting for the general secretary position who can assure the party’s victory in the 2024 elections.
“The forum is imbibed with his strategy, charisma, and commitment to service for the party as well as his enviable vision that seeks to pull all party members along which we hope would give our great party a resounding victory come 2024.
“In preparations into the 2024 election, the party needs a GENERAL SECRETARY that people can rally behind, approach and rely on to deliver victory for this great party and we are convinced beyond every reasonable doubt that Elvis Afriyie Ankrah has these pedigrees to soldier the party into victory.
“The Youth Forum is convinced that Elvis Afriyie Ankrah has the impeccable track record to become the next NDC chief scribe. With what we know you are capable of doing, we have at the back of our minds that it would be a one-touch victory if you are finally voted into office,” parts of the statement, read.
The youth, therefore, urged delegates of the party to vote massively for Afriyie Ankrah in the December 17, 2022, national executive elections of the party.
Afriyie Ankrah is expected to face stiff competition from the ex-Deputy Minister of Finance and former Propaganda Secretary of the NDC, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey and the current Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Dr. Peter Otokunor.
Over 63 percent of participants in a poll conducted by GhanaWeb in October 2022 said that the current Director of Elections of the NDC should be the replacement of the outgoing General Secretary of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, a former Director of Elections for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has recalled some good memories of working together with the first Vice Chancellor of the University for Professional Studies (UPSA), Prof. Joshua Alabi.
Recalling how, together with Prof. Alabi, who was at the time the Campaign Manager of the NDC, they worked at trying to win power for the party, he explained that one of the things that worked for him was knowing his place.
He told GhanaWeb’s Edward Smith Anamale in an interview on Election Desk that although it was clear to many people at the time that he, Elvis, was the one seemingly doing all the work, he did not allow any of that to get to his head.
He said he knew his place and played his part accordingly.
“He was then the Pro-Vice Chancellor of UPSA and so he had to juggle the two and so at certain times, when he was on holidays, then he’ll join the campaign full time but during school time, he wasn’t full time. So, I was virtually running but we had a very solid relationship.
“I reported to him morning, evening every day – morning, evening. And there’s a lesson in that; loyalty, because people were saying now you are in charge and I said No, I was not appointed Campaign Manager,” he said.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, who is eyeing the position of General Secretary of the NDC in its pending December 17, 2022, congress, reiterated that, unknown to him, it would all pay one day.
He narrated how one day, when he was seeking a job at the UPSA, having been in the good books of Prof Joshua Alabi, it paid off very well for him.
“He is my boss and it paid off because after that election, then in 2005, I contested for and won as the Deputy General Secretary at the Koforidua Congress.
“So, when we came back, I was put in charge of operations, and we were in opposition – we had been in opposition from 2000 and I believe that you must always work; earn your keep, so I applied for a job at the UPSA and on the panel, of course, was Prof. Alabi, who I’d been loyal to.
“Of course, I was qualified, but can you imagine if there had been a frosty relationship and I had been arrogant and disrespectful to him that now I’m in charge, I’m sure I wouldn’t have had that job,” he explained.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has warned its members not to exhibit signs of complacency ahead of the 2024 elections.
The party contends that all and sundry must contribute as the NDC aims at winning the next polls.
Speaking to Citi News after launching his campaign to contest the General Secretary position, Director of Elections for the NDC, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah urged his supporters to stay focused.
“The governing party will be very desperate in trying to deploy other means so for me, if genuine elections are held today, the NPP will struggle to get 40 percent, but we know they won’t do genuine elections. That is why the NDC must not be complacent and say that we have won already. I don’t want to hear that. We must fight to the finish. We want to win an overwhelming victory that nobody can do anything about it.”
The Chairman of the NDC, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo wants delegates to retain him as the chairman of the party.
He argues the party requires a formidable team to rescue the country from the current government.
“I respectfully urge and entreat all delegates to vote for me come December 17. Be assured that, a vote for me is a vote for unity, a stronger party, inclusiveness, hard work and ultimately, it is a vote for victory in 2024. I am the people’s chairman and I have an unfinished agenda. Vote for me for victory for the NDC in 2024 and form the next government.”
A former Director of Elections of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has called on NDC delegates to vote for him to become the party’s next general secretary.
Afriyie Ankrah, who made these remarks while filing his nomination for the position at the party’s headquarters in Accra on Wednesday (November 11), intimated that he is the only person among the other candidates who can ensure that the party is not robbed of its predestined victory in the December 2024 elections.
He added that the party’s delegates know this fact, and his prayer is that they will make him the replacement for Johnson Asiedu Nketiah come December 17.
“I love this party! I know you all do. If I thought for a split second that what I am doing would be tantamount to danger for this party, I would gladly excuse myself; however, I know, you know, and the delegates know that for this election of 2024, I am the best person for the job and it’s for that reason why I came to submit my form to contest the position of General Secretary to help organise the party for battle and victory in 2024.
“I have always believed that when a man gets into his head to do something, and when he exclusively occupies himself in that pursuit, he must succeed, whatever the difficulties. We will win 2024 by all means, but first, I appeal to the best in you delegates to vote massively for me as your next General Secretary,” he said.
Afriyie Ankrah is expected to face stiff competition from the ex-Deputy Minister of Finance and former Propaganda Secretary of the NDC, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey and the current Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor.
Over 63 percent of participants in a poll conducted by GhanaWeb in October 2022 said that the current Director of Elections of the NDC should be the replacement of the outgoing General Secretary of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah.
A former Director of Elections of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has presented the party to Ghanaians as the calvary that will save the country from its current economic woes.
The aspirant for the position of the General Secretary of the party stated that the challenges people are going through currently would not come to an end through any special help from above.
Rather, he said, the NDC is the right party to bring the needed relief to Ghanaians as they have been hoping for.
Speaking during the presentation of his nomination forms at the party headquarters in Accra, Elvia Afriyie Ankrah explained that the struggles for democracy could not just be allowed to be wasted by non-performing leaders.
“The sacrifices of the 1980s were endured by all primarily because farmers from Yeji to Dodi Papase, where I was born, fishermen and women from Elmina to Denu, market women from Makola to Kumasi, all knew then that if they could endure it one more time, they will be able to build a democracy, an economy and an enabling environment that will allow the fourth republic to thrive and last for the benefit of all.
“However, that fourth republic is under attack by a clueless bunch of people led by a man who could only be described as the greatest mistake of our democracy and the worst experiment of the fourth republic. As catastrophic as that is, the real nightmare is that we still must endure it till 2024 before help comes,” he said.
He, however, stated that the return of the NDC to power would restore the needed confidence that Ghanaians hope to have in the country.
He added that together with his party members, the NDC would restore hope to Ghanaians.
“However, there’s no special help coming from above, ladies and gentlemen; there’s no calvary coming with the sunset or the roaring seas. We, the National Democratic Congress, are the calvary. You and I are the only ones who can save this country one more time. And you, the delegates, are the ones upon whose shoulder rest the sole responsibility to restore hope and give Ghanaians the much-needed assurance of a better tomorrow,” he said.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah will face competition from Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, the current Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, and Fifi Kwetey, a former Member of Parliament for Ketu South and Deputy Minister of Finance for the slot of the party’s General Secretary.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah has submitted his nomination forms to contest the position of general secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ghana’s largest opposition party.
The former Director of Elections of the party presented the forms on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at the party headquarters in Accra.
Presenting the forms, Elvis Ankrah stated that the pending national delegates congress of the NDC is its most critical election ever because it holds the hopes of many Ghanaians.
“But I can tell you right now that this delegate congress is the most critical elections in the history of our dear country. If we get it right as a party the whole country will get it right and if we get it wrong the country will sink.
“Take a moment and carefully think about the ramifications of putting the wrong people in the right offices. It’s akin to going fishing with a sharp shovel. This party is the last frontier of hope for the many hopeless people across this country and this election is the most hopeful thing that the people of this country are looking forward to this year,” he said.
He added that the outcome of the elections will largely determine the future of the party.
“How we move forward as a party and a country is predicated largely on the outcome of this election,” he said.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah is facing competition from Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, the current Deputy General Secretary of the NDC; and Fifi Kwetey, a former Member of Parliament for Ketu South and Deputy Minister of Finance.
The NDC will hold its national delegates congress in December 2022.
Contender for General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Elvis Afriyie Ankrah has said his ability to speak in various local languages is a major boost for his campaign to be elected General Secretary of the opposition NDC.
Speaking on Asempa FM monitored by MyNewsGh.com, Mr. Afriyie Ankrah said he considers his local langauge skills a major selling point to delegates across the country with whom he relates well, although he didn’t mention any other candidate’s name.
“I can speak many local languages. Everywhere I go I speak their language.”, he boosted of his human relations and language skills.
The NDC General Secretary hopeful said a similar language statement he made in the past was misconstrued to mean another contender cannot speak Twi but according to him, he didn’t mention anyone’s name or referred to any person.
Another contender, Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey has been accused of being unable to speak the popular local language Twi or Akan lanaguages. His critics said this could affect his relationship with the predominantly Akan speaking Radio and TV stations across the country.
However, Mr. Ankrah said he never referred to any other aspirant when he was touting his local language skills.
He said he was only “marketing” himself and language was one of his skills and selling advantages.
“I didn’t say someone cannot speak Twi… I said Twi language is my plus… it is one of my major selling points. I speak Ga.. I speak Ewe, I speak Twi…. … There is no constituency in Ghana that I don’t have a contact…” He said.
Mr. Afriyie Ankrah spoke Ga, Ewe and Twi to listeners of Ekosii Sen to prove his point.
The race to replace Johnson Asiedu Nketia as General Secretary has become very heated.
Among persons who have expressed interest in the position including, former Obuasi district chairman of the NDC, Abdul Ishaq Farrakhan; ex-Deputy Minister of Finance, Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey; current Deputy General Secretary of the party, Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor and Elvis Afriyie Ankrah.
Mr. Fiifi Kwettey and Elvis Ankrah both won opinion polls conducted by Kevin Taylor and Ghanaweb respectively.
For the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the General Secretary election of 2022 will perhaps be the most contentious since the outgoing executive, Asiedu Nketiah, overwhelmingly won his first election in December 2005.
Since then, there have been little doubts about the influence and power that Asiedu Nketiah, known commonly as General Mosquito, has brought to the party and its overall political outlook.
With his announced exit, a number of candidates have already started putting themselves up to take up the soon-to-be vacant slot.
From the obvious to the surprise entrants, there have so far been four major names tipped for the General Secretary position of the NDC: Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, Abdul Ishaq Farrakhan, Fifi Kwetey, and Elvis Afriyie Ankrah.
In this GhanaWeb article, we take a look at what each of these candidates bring to the table.
This is also to look at what kinds of pedigrees each of these candidates have in helping the party which has been in opposition since January 2017, get a hold of political power once again.
We begin with Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor:
Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor is the current Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
As someone in that position, to be vying for the substantive position of General Secretary, Dr. Otokunor brings a lot of firsthand experience to the job. In fact, in the case of all the contenders, he is most likely the most knowledgeable about the workings or otherwise of the office.
He also brings in experience from his role as the Deputy Director of Research of the NDC, and the Registrar for the Ghana Institute of Social Democracy (GISD).
Dr. Otokunor previously contested in the NDC primaries for the Ablekuma Central Constituency parliamentary seat in 2015 and lost.
Previously, he served as the Deputy Coordinator for the National Youth Authority (NYA) under the John Dramani Mahama government.
Fifi Kwetey:
Fifi Kwetey is not a novice in the NDC party and surely not an easy contender in this race.
He is the former Member of Parliament for Ketu South: the constituency considered as the NDC’s ‘world bank’ for votes and support in the country.
After serving as MP for two consecutive terms, he backed out on his own, focusing his energies into other commitments.
But on what he brings to the table of the General Secretary slot of the NDC, his influence as a former MP is not the only quality there is.
Fifi Kwetey’s knowledge in finance and economic matters is something that cannot be overstepped.
This is evidenced in the fact that he was the Deputy Minister of Finance from 2009 to 2013, under the presidency of John Evans Atta Mills of blessed memory.
Under the presidency of John Dramani Mahama, his previous work and experiences earned him the appointment as the Minister of State at the Presidency in charge of Financial and Allied Institutions.
The outspoken, articulate former MP also once served as Ghana’s Minister of Food and Agriculture, and Minister for Transport.
Fifi Kwetey has however not held any direct party executive position but there is no doubt that within the ranks of the party, he is quite popular and commands quite a following.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah:
The next person on GhanaWeb’s list is Elvis Afriyie Ankrah.
This candidate is yet another strong contender for the position of the General Secretary slot of the NDC and he brings as much to the table.
While he has never won an election at the party level, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah has served in other executive positions of the NDC.
He is the current Director of Elections of the party and also served as the Deputy National Campaign Manager in the 2008 elections.
He was also the National Campaign Coordinator for the 2012 presidential campaigns of the National Democratic Congress for both Presidents John Evans Atta Mills and John Dramani Mahama.
He was also appointed Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development by President John Atta Mills. And then again, he was the Minister of Sports under Mahama, and then a Minister of State at the Office of the President.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah was also a parliamentary candidate in the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency election of December 2000 elections, although he lost.
So, without a doubt, the competition this candidate brings to the General Secretary of the NDC race is one that will give all others a real run for their monies.
As an experienced politician, Elvis hopes to take over Asiedu Nketiah’s job and if it is anything to go by, his energy makes him perhaps, the best fit to take over the General Secretary position from the outgoing executive; who has equally exhibited a lot of energy in his role.
Abdul Ishaq Farrakhan:
Finally, another candidate vying for the position of General Secretary of the NDC is Abdul Ishaq Farrakhan.
Mentioned as a possible replacement for Johnson Asiedu Nketiah even though he is yet to officially state his bid to run, it is worth mentioning that in terms of political clouts, Farrakhan is the least most competitive candidate in this race so far.
This will however not be the first time Abdul Ishaq Farrakhan has been tipped to be the General Secretary of the NDC.
In 2014, he was the only person who dared to challenge General Mosquito for the party’s General Secretary position, losing out comfortably.
The 52-year-old previously served as a district chairman in the Obuasi Municipality in the Ashanti Region.
In 2018, Abdul Ishaq Farrakhan was one of 11 people who contested in the party’s Deputy General Secretary elections and lost to Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor.
The boldness and consistency in trying to lead the party at the level of the General Secretary position is one of the qualities that this candidate brings to the table.
It however remains an open contest with the possibility for any kind of surprises and GhanaWeb will continue to keep its eyes and ears close to the NDC and report all updates to its readers.
According to him, it’s of no use talking about the late former President’s strained relationship with a political party he founded with his sweat because the party and its current leadership pushed him out.
He was reacting to a recent interview by Elvis Afriyie Ankrah where he spoke about the late former President of Ghana and founder of the NDC.
Read His Statement Below
Okay, while I have great sympathy with Afriyie-Ankrah’s totally understandable commentary, I feel the need to call for caution and a smarter, more sophisticated approach to matters relating to chairman Rawlings.
Elvis and his likes should take a trip back and have a look through the Adabraka headquarters window. The view – at least as described by the lily-livered elements in the NDC leadership hasn’t changed, or? We were told Rawlings had outlived his relevance in the NDC, or? So, why would anyone even be bothered he cozied up to Akufo-Addo when indeed his own folks had no difficulty in attempting to ostracise him?
I think Afriyie-Ankrah needs to zone in on the weightier matters relating to the contest and provide a convincing narrative for all, that inspires even the non-believers and makes them want to be led by him in the event he wins the race.
In order to gain the seats they now have in Parliament, he claimed that the NPP had outspent the NDC by a ratio of almost 1:1,000 during the parliamentary elections.
Elvis claimed that the NPP had turned to force and vigilantism in places where money was insufficient to increase voter turnout; hence, those seats are still being litigated in court.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on why he is the perfect man to succeed the current NDC General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, Afriyie Ankrah noted that while the NDC lost the 2020 General Elections, the statistics bode well for the party.
“I believe we won 142 seats, five of them are in court now, and it was through violence. You saw what happened in Techiman, Tarkwa Nsuaem, Sefwi Wiawso and all those other places because of the violence that was deployed.
“And then again the NPP outspent us by a ratio of maybe about one to a thousand, because we know the money we made available to our parliamentary candidates for example. It’s not up to 100,000. It’s not even up to 50,000, but you heard an NPP Vice Chairperson saying that she was given 1 million, just her alone.
“So they outspent us absolutely. They had so much cash, and that is why we’re in this crisis. They spent money, they opened the vaults. You’d be surprised to know that in some of the Northern, Savannah regions on the eve of elections bullion vans actually came to pack and money was being disbursed,” he said.
According to him, the election statistics show that even despite an NPP win, the NDC has gained more grounds among the Ghanaian electorates and is poised to take power in the upcoming 2024 General Elections.
“So with all that spending, if we’re to go by the official declaration of the EC, we have 137-137. Don’t forget that when we were in government, we had 106 seats, we lost by 44.3% and we recovered. And when I say this I say this very carefully so that nobody will think that we’re happy that we lost.
“We did not go in to lose, okay, but when you’re doing analysis, the statistics they speak. The statistics show that from a deficit of 106 seats, we now have 137. And if you look at the numbers, we had a deficit of 1 million votes which we clawed back so President Mahama’s votes went up by 6.2 million.
“So there were contentions over the Presidential votes which we went to court and all that. So I believe we’ve built a certain momentum,” he said.
A former director of elections for theNational Democratic Congress (NDC), Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has declared his intention to run for the party’s general secretaryposition.
He declared that in order to unify the party, engaging unhappy cadres and party members is his top priority.
Mr Ankrah asserted that the party, particularly those party members who felt abandoned in the past, needs to be united at this point.
“The general approach is to bring everybody on board. I know so many people. You know it’s not as if there is a deliberate attempt to sideline anybody, it’s just an evolution of the party and even the society.
“We are both physical and spiritual beings so you don’t want to have very key strategic people walking around with bitterness. Of course there is some bitterness which is unfounded.
“If you are harbouring bitterness in your heart for no reason, you will die, but people who genuinely feel they’ve been neglected there is a way to bring them back and bring the spirit of the party back. That is what wins elections and it is going to be a major thing and I’m well positioned to do that,”he added.
National Democratic Congress (NDC) General Secretary hopeful, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has rallied the youth of the party towards a unity of purpose agenda to secure victory in the 2024 general elections.
He charged the atmosphere of the well-attended 6th-anniversary rally of the NDC Youth Network of the National Democratic Congress in Walewale in the North East Region.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah focused his presentation at the event on the Role of Youth in Nation building, the historical antecedents of the NDC and the way forward for the National Democratic Congress, and how the Party can salvage the Country.
Recalling his days as a student leader as SRC President at Legon and NUGS Coordinating Secretary, he indicated how time and preparation merged so fast.
“It is amazing how so quickly as student leaders, himself, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, Hon. Baba Jamal, and others went on to assume national leadership positions,” he said.
He charged the youth to continuously prepare, learn, adapt, be creative and consistently guided by the love of the country as they would soon be in charge of critical positions in the country before they know it.
The charismatic former Minister of State and Director of Elections of the NDC charged the entire participants to cheers and applause when he carefully traced the history of the PNDC/NDC revealing the landmark achievements in nation building.
According to him, apart from the era of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, any other monumental infrastructure and policy have been initiated and implemented by the NDC.
He cited the 1992 Constitution, Local Government and Decentralization, Infrastructure development, District Assembly Common Fund, Rural water programs, Rural electrification, among others.
He added that the Youth should be proud of this rich tradition and be inspired to do more for this Country as future leaders.
In his presentation, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah showed the progressive gains the NDC has made in both parliamentary and Presidential polls after 2016.
For instance, the NDC made more than one million in additional Presidential votes and increased its parliamentary count to 137. He indicated the party can do more and eventually win the next presidential elections come 2024.
