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Tag: Johnson Asiedu Nketiah

  • Everything you need to know about the upcoming NDC elections

    Everything you need to know about the upcoming NDC elections

    The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is actively gearing up for a busy 2023 ahead of crucial 2024 General Elections as they look to wrestle power from the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    It will be the first major test for the newly-elected batch of executives led by National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, who until December 2022 had served for 17 years as the party’s General Secretary.

    Asiedu Nketiah, along with his successor Fifi Fiavi Kwetey and members of the National Executive body are gunning for early victory by way of leading the NDC into the Jubilee House after eight years in opposition.

    The party on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 released detailed guidelines on how its presidential and parliamentary primaries will be conducted later this year.

    GhanaWeb looks at the major highlights contained in both processes.

    Major modalities for the presidential primary

    Date and venues:

    The election of the Presidential Candidate shall be held on Saturday, 13th May, 2023 at Voting Centers in all 276 Constituencies of the NDC which includes the SALL/Guan catchment area.

    The National Headquarters of the NDC shall constitute an additional voting center for all delegates from external branches of the party.

    Nomination process and completing forms:

    Nominations shall be opened between 22nd and 24th March, 2023

    A candidate must be proposed by a party member in good standing and endorsed by five others in each constituency in each region across the country.

    Candidates shall be subjected to a vetting process which is expected to take place at the party Headquarters on a specified date.

    Cost of forms and submission:

    Nomination forms shall be made available in the office of the General Secretary for purchase at a non-refundable fee of Thirty thousand Ghana Cedis (Gh¢30,000.00) paid by bankers’ draft.

    The completed forms (Nomination and endorsement forms) are to be returned to the General Secretary of the Party with evidence of the payment of a non-refundable filing fee of Five hundred thousand Ghana Cedis (Gh¢500,000.00) via bankers’ draft.

    Female candidates and Persons with Disabilities shall pay fifty percent (50%) of the filing fees

    Election Day:

    The presidential primary will take place concurrently with the parliamentary primary with the party’s national headquarters serving as the collation center.

    A candidate will require 50% plus one to win a first-round victory.

    Major modalities for the parliamentary primary

    Date and place:

    It shall be held on same day as the presidential primary (May 13, 2023). The election shall be held at a venue within the Constituency as determined by the Constituency Executive Committee in consultation with the Regional Executive Committee (REC) of the respective region.

    Nomination forms

    Forms shall be made available online for download on www.ghanandc.com and a non-refundable fee of Five thousand Ghana Cedis (Gh¢5,000.00) paid online via the stipulated momo or bank card.

    The completed forms (nomination and endorsement) shall be completed and submiited to the Elections Directorate of the constituency after the payment of a non-refundable filing fee of Forty thousand Ghana cedis (Gh¢40,000.00) via Bank Card on www.ghanandc.com.

    Completing forms:

    Each contestant must be proposed by one person and seconded by three (3) persons all of whom must be members of good standing of the party in different branches of the constituency.

    Each prospective candidate shall be endorsed by at least one branch executive member of the party from 50 percent of the total branches in the constituency.

    Day of voting:

    All rules as applies in national elections shall be applicable along with any other rules as communicated by the National Executive Committee (NEC).

    Candidates can appoint agents to monitor the process. Ballots shall be counted and collated immediately after the process and winner shall be declared on the basis of first past the post – aspirant with highest number of votes.

    Key timelines for the process:

    OPENING OF NOMINATIONS MONDAY 22ND – 24TH FEBRUARY, 2023

    SUBMISSION OF FORMS/ FILING OF NOMINATION MONDAY 20TH – 22ND MARCH 2023

    VETTING MONDAY 27th – 29th MARCH, 2023

    APPEAL 30TH MARCH – 6TH APRIL, 2023

    ELECTIONS SATURDAY, 13TH MAY, 202

  • Asiedu Nketiah, Ofosu-Ampofo make first public appearance together after NDC elections

    The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, and Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, his predecessor, have appeared in public for the first time since the NDC Congress in Accra that just ended.

    The two met at the wedding ceremony of Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communications Officer of the NDC, on Wednesday, December 21, 2022.

    Ahead of the election that saw Asiedu Nketiah, the former General Secretary of the party emerge winner in the National Chairman-ship race, the two candidates were actively engaged in a lot of media banters.

    The last time they were seen together was on the morning of Sunday, December 18, 2022, just moments before the official results for the polls were declared by the officials of the Electoral Commission of Ghana.

    After the contest, Asiedu Nketiah won convincingly with a 5,569 to the 2,892 votes garnered by Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo.

    Sammy Gyamfi’s wedding is a private one that was attended by dignitaries like the former president, John Dramani Mahama.

  • Asiedu Nketiah must apologise to Ghanaians – Prof Joseph Osafo

    The National Chairman of the (NDC) has received criticism from senior psychologist Professor Joseph Osafo for his remarks encouraging violence.

    Johnson Asiedu Nketiah in his victory speech after being declared winner of the Chairmanship position at the recently held 10th National Delegates Congress said:

    “We are prepared to sacrifice everything; and I mean everything, including our lives, to achieve victory … wherever impunity becomes law, resistance becomes a duty,” he noted.

    “Looking at the array of executives elected today, I have no doubt the party wants us to carry the battle to the elephant. We cannot let the country and we cannot let the party down. We are not taking the confidence for granted. Ghana is in a crisis and the NDC is also at a crossroads.

    “What we need is unity. We pledge on behalf of myself and the new executives that in the coming days, our first assignment is to work to unite the party and bring everybody on board, even as we march forward to defeat the elephant and set the nation on the path of progress,” he added.

    Prof Joseph Osafo contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ asked General Mosquito to apologise to Ghanaians.

    “He should apologise … I don’t think we need to beat war drums. I totally disagree with him … we are growing in our democratic culture so we don’t need comments like this.”

    He has, however, commended the party for a successful congress.

  • I won’t commit suicide over Asiedu Nketia’s NDC chairmanship victory – Koku Anyidoho

    A former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho has stated that Johnson Asiedu Nketia’s chairmanship victory is not enough grounds to commit suicide.

    According to the former Communications Director at the Presidency, even though he didn’t want Mr. Nketia to win, he is not peeved about his victory.

    Mr Koku Anyidoho added that this will not prevent him from criticising the party, when it falters.

    He added that persons who think the outcome of the elections will cause him to commit suicide are joking.

    “I didn’t want Mosquito to win: he won and so I shd commit suicide? Ampofo didn’t want Mosquito to win; has he committed suicide? rubbish to say that I predicted a loss for Mosquito and he won so I shd keep quiet.

    “How many of us have not predicted wins in our lives and lost?,” he said in a tweet on Sunday.

    Mr Anyidoho denied allegations that there is a rift between him and his former boss, Johnson Asiedu Nketia.

    Speaking to JoyNews, he said despite his issues with the party, Mr Asiedu Nketia asked him to join a committee that would facilitate the nomination of a flagbearer for the 2020 general elections.

    “When we entered 2019, Asiedu Nketiah called me that ‘Koku, we’re going to form a committee to work around nominating our flagbearer. Can you come and serve on the committee?’ I said fine. So I went and served on the committee.

    “The records are there. So the committee that elected President Mahama to run again, I was a member of that committee. If I was bitter that committee would have had records,” he said.

    According to Koku, his former boss admitted that the party had realised his “neutrality” in the party was “needed so that the other candidates can warm up to the committee.”

    Mr Anyidoho was formally expelled from the NDC in a letter dated July 27, 2021, after investigations were conducted to ascertain the veracity of allegations levelled against him by two members of the party.

    The allegations included misconduct and anti-party behaviour.

    Despite the expulsion, Mr Anyidoho continues to proclaim his love for the party and has said that he will not leave. He also disputes he has been properly expelled from the party.

    Source: myjoyonline

  • Ofosu-Ampofo didn’t lose because of underperformance – NDC Deputy General Secretary

    Retained Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Barbara Serwaa Asamoah, doubts the incumbent NDC National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, was voted out of office due to underperformance.

    She believes the party recognises the outgone chairman’s contribution adding that he “held the party very effectively.”

    ”Both have their strength in leading the party. One was very calm, the other one is fire-drunk so if party people believe that at this point where we find ourselves, it is a firebrand that we need to lead the party. I think it’s well accepted but I don’t think that the other person lost because he didn’t perform. Everybody knows that he’s played his role very well, he led the party very effectively,” she said.

    According to the politician, both individuals are strong leaders with different leadership styles.

    She also shared that the party will be channeling their support towards the new chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia with the 2024 general elections as the goal.

    “We are all going to give him the necessary support; the support that we gave to the outgone national chairman for him to succeed, we are going to give the new chairman the same support,” she added.

    NDC delegates converged at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday, December 17, 2022, to elect new national executives.

    The outcome of votes as suggested by some experts and party people renders the NDC formidable to match the stalwarts of the New Patriotic Party in the 2024 elections.

    Source: myjoyonline

  • I see my election as a call to duty – Asiedu Nketiah

    Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the new Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has described his election as the leader of the Party as “a call to duty.”

    “Sunday’s event indicate that the NDC is not done with me yet. I see this election as a call to duty; the duty is enormous,” he said when he delivered his victory speech on Sunday morning to climax the Party’s National Executive Elections.

    Mr Nketiah, who had served as General Secretary of the NDC for 17 years, dethroned Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, who became the Party’s Chairman in 2018, but lost his re-election bid.

    Mr Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, a former Propaganda Secretary of the NDC is now the new General Secretary.

    Mr Joseph Yammin, a former Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, also won the National Organiser contest.

    While thanking the delegates for the confidence reposed in the new National Executive Members, Mr Nketiah said his foremost task would be to unite the rank and file of the Party for victory in the 2024 parliamentary and presidential elections.

    “This is a victory for the NDC and that their defeat(losing candidates) is not a defeat in the actual sense but an indication that the Party needs them to serve in other positions,” he said.

    He described the Party’s National Executive Congress as an election to “regain the independence of this country,” adding: “We are prepared to sacrifice everything, including our lives to ensure that the country is rescued.”

    Former President John Dramani Mahama congratulated all the new executives and commended the Party’s delegates for their sacrifices and efforts to the progress of the Party.

    “I believe the delegates have the best wisdom and they have told us what they want. It is our duty to work with the blueprint,” he said.

    Mr Mahama urged the new executives to “cut their celebrations short” and set to work immediately.

    “(Election) 2024 has the highest stake and the executives must understand the responsibilities entrusted on their shoulders,” he said.

  • ‘Kyebi witches and villagers know Akufo-Addo-led administration is a catastrophe’ – Ofosu-Ampofo

    The former leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, has aired his dissatisfaction with the Akufo-Addo-led administration.

    Speaking to party members at the NDC national delegates election on December 17, 2022, at the Accra Sports Stadium, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo said that the Akufo-Addo administration’s level of mismanagement is so evident that even witches from his village have realized and are worried.

    “Even the witches and villages from Kyebi say catastrophe, NPP’s Akufo-Addo-Bawumia catastrophic scent ‘agye bebiaa’ has spread everywhere, the NPP catastrophic performance in government has been so repugnant that their own party could not stand the stench of their own rotten government, they started what looks like a cleansing and deodorizing exercise by demanding the sack of Ken Ofori-Atta as finance minister,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, a former NDC general secretary, defeated Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo in the election for national chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that was held in the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday, December 17, 2022.

    At the close of polls, Johnson Aseidu Nketiah pulled a total vote cast of 5,569 representing 65.17% whilst Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo garnered 2,892 votes representing 33.81%.

  • Ghanaians deserve an apology from NDC, Mahama on 2020 election petition – Gary Nimako

    Director of Legal Affairs for the New Patriotic Party, Gary Nimako, has called on former president John Dramani Mahama to, as a matter of urgency, render an apology to Ghanaians on the 2020 election petition.

    The outspoken lawyer asserts that the former presidential candidate for the NDC’s 2020 general election wasted state resources on an election petition without facts.

    Gary Nimako added that Mahama and the NDC caucus knew they had no evidence but accused the court of being biased against them during the election petition.

    “Post-election case, there have been comments here and there that the judges have been biased against them. When, indeed, you know from day one that you have no evidence at all.

    “With this revelation having come out to the public domain, I think Ghanaians deserve an apology from the NDC. Especially from former President Mahama to apologise to Ghanaians and the court because if they knew from day one that in fact, they had no evidence at all…Yet they managed to go to court with the hope that they could get Jean Mensa to mount the witness box and cross-examine her.

    “They really misled Ghanaians and their supporters, and the way they treated the court. They have to eat the humble pie and apologise,” he told Ernest Kojo Manu on Joy FM’s Top Story on Wednesday.

    Lawyer Nimako’s demand follows a leaked tape in which the general secretary of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, revealed that the party did not have enough evidence to contest the 2020 general election results.

    In the said tape, Asiedu Nketiah is heard telling party supporters why the director of IT failed to electronically compile the documentation the party required to challenge the results of the presidential election.

    The NDC filed an election petition after the 2020 general election accusing the Electoral Commission of stealing the election results for the NPP.

    They alleged that NPP won the polls through vote padding, arithmetic and computational errors.

    However, the Supreme Court gave the final verdict in favour of President Akufo-Addo and ruled that the NDC had no basis for the petition.

  • Mahama never asked me not to contest Ofosu-Ampofo – Asiedu Nketia

    Incumbent General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has denied reports that former President, John Dramani Mahama asked him not to contest for the chairmanship position of the party.

    Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia said those claims are untrue and should be disregarded.

    According to him, that is the campaign strategy of his opponent to create the impression that he has disrespected the former President.

    The incumbent National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, says there have been attempts by party bigwigs to stop Asiedu Nketia from competing him, but to no avail.

    However, Mr Asiedu Nketia said he has the full support of the entire party to contest.

    “It’s a lie. Nobody asked me not to contest for the chairmanship position.

    It’s not true. Everyone who says or is saying that is telling a lie,” he said in interview with UTV on Friday.

    Currently, Mr. Ofosu Ampofo’s role as the NDC’s National Chairman is threatened by the decision of the party’s General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia to unseat him.

    Political analysts have described it as the main contest in the party’s upcoming National Delegates Congress. Mr. Asiedu Nketia is frantically taking steps to take control of the party as National Chairman ahead of the 2024 general election.

  • Asiedu Nketiah explains why he decided to quit General Secretary position

    The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has explained why he decided to leave his position and contest for the party’s national chairman position.

    Speaking in an XYZ TV interview monitored by GhanaWeb, Asiedu Nketiah said that he had served in the General Secretary position for too long and had to leave to give the youth of the party the opportunity to also serve.

    He added that he took the decision to leave the general secretary position eight years ago but was persuaded to stay for the sake of the party.

    “I have never believed that the chief executive of an organisation should be at post for too long. I consider 17 years (as General Secretary of the NDC) to be too long. I have demonstrated this all my life. I decided not to be a Member of Parliament again after three terms, not because somebody could have removed me but because I want to give the youth who had served me the chance to lead,” he said in Twi.

    He added that many people in the NDC had previously told him that they have the dream of becoming general secretary, but they are not contesting because they do not want to challenge him.

    Asiedu Nketiah also explained that people staying in political party positions for too long makes the party less attractive to the youth.

    He added that, comparing the NDC to the NPP (New Patriotic Party), the youth in the NPP transition faster to top positions than their NDC counterparts, which makes them more attractive.

    “Look at this young man who became the General Secretary of the NPP (Justin Kodua Frimpong). He started in the NPP just 10 years ago. So, if he started in the same university as NDC members and he, a TESCON member, has risen from president (of TESCON) to youth organiser and now to the national organiser of the NPP, the youth will be more attracted to the NPP because they will feel they progress faster there,” he said.

    Some leading members of the NDC, including Ambassador Victor Smith and Kojo Adu-Asare, have suggested that Asiedu Ntetiah’s decision to challenge the current chairman of the party, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, is because he is bitter for not being chosen as the running mate of John Dramani Mahama for the 2020 presidential elections.

    The party’s national elections are slated for Saturday, December 17, 2022.
    Candidates will be contesting for various positions, including the National Chairman, National Vice-Chairmen, General Secretary, Deputy General Secretary, National Organiser, Deputy National Organiser, and the National Treasurer and Deputy National Treasurer.

    Others are the National Communications Officer and Deputy, as well as the National Zongo Caucus Coordinator.

    The current National Chairman of the party, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, is expected to face stiff competition from the outgoing General Secretary of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, for the chairmanship position.

    Watch the interview below:

  • Political analyst says both Ofosu-Ampofo, Asiedu Nketiah are ‘worthy materials’ for NDC Chairmanship post

    NDC delegates who will be going to the polls on Saturday, December 17, 2022, may have a difficult time choosing between the two contenders of the National Chairmanship position (i.e incumbent General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketiah and incumbent chairman, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo.)

    This is because, according to Political Scientist, Dr. Kwame Asah-Asante, both candidates are ‘worthy materials’ for the post and have proven themselves over the years.

    “They’ve all excelled throughout their years in the party as party faithful, and they’ve worked very hard to bring the party to where it is,” he said.

    According to him, their immense contribution towards the growth and development of the party cannot be shoved under the carpet, and thus described them as stalwarts of the party.

    He, however, expressed concern that the recent bickering between the two in the run up to the NDC’s National Delegates Conference may dent the image they have built for themselves through their works.

    He explained that while it is normal for there to be disagreements within party executives, he was not expecting the said disagreement to spill out into the open instead of being addressed internally.

    “I expected that whatever differences there are between them, they must do well to ameliorate the situation by talking to their supporters and making sure that the only way that they can win power is through the message that they churn out that will resonate with those who are going to elect them.

    “And that they will have strategy that will be in tune with the legal processes that the party has put in place and of course they will be able to come out with manifestoes that will address the lingering challenges within this country in general and then the specific interest of the party, and of course, their followers and all that.

    “Once they get these things right in place, their home will stay dry. So the bickering, the rancor, the attacks on each other to the best of my knowledge, it doesn’t bode well for them at all, and that I expect them to talk to their supporters and then go to the elections and then let us have genuine contest,” he said.

    Meanwhile the Political Scientist has bemoaned the violence that characterized the first part of the National Delegates’ Conference in Cape Coast.

    Dr. Asah-Asante stressed that it does not augur well for the image of the party as a democratic institution.

    He called for the party’s leadership to address any challenges within the party to prevent a repeat of Saturday’s incident at the final National Delegates’ Conference.

    “So I will urge the NDC leadership to sit down, plan properly and make sure that the big task ahead which is the Saturday one will be incident free. This also goes to the party faithful that you can’t claim to be supporting a party and at the same time taking certain decisions or actions that undermine the entire process that your party is putting in place.

    “I think the party’s interest is bigger than any other interest, so if there are difficulties, there are challenges, I will urge people to use the internal structures within to be able to address their concerns and then forge ahead to make sure that their party wins power,” he said.

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • ‘Issues on my leaked tape not new’ – Asiedu Nketiah

    The national chairman hopeful of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has mounted a spirited counteraction against the leaked tape that has gone viral on social media.

    In the said leaked tape, the current NDC General Secretary, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, was heard confessing to some party delegates in the Ashanti Region that the NDC had to contest the 2020 election results in the Supreme Court without the collated results because its Information Technology (IT) system crashed.

    According to Mr Asiedu Nketia, what was contained in the leaked tape is no news.

    “These are matters I have spoken about from time immemorial as the party’s General Secretary,” he forcefully said.

    Mr Nketiah defended the content of the tape while speaking on Accra-based TV XYZ and later played on Accra 100.5 FM’s mid-day news on Wednesday, December 14, 2022.

    “This is nothing new except the people want to make a political meal out of it,” he said.

    He warned people who intend to take this tape to town to rethink their decision.

    He was of the view there was nothing inside that tape saying “I told the Supreme Court the same thing when I mounted the witness box in the 2020 Election Petition.”

    “When I was asked about the NDC’s collated results I said I have none, besides, it is not the business of the NDC to collate results,” he argued.

    “It is the EC’s job to collate results,” he said, adding that the NDC can only collate results for its internal purposes.

    “We compile results for internal consumption not for the EC and the court’s consumption,” he said.

    He narrated that it was the NDC’s quest to challenge the EC’s collated results because the EC collated multiple results using the wrong procedures.

    “Go and check what happened in Techiman South Constituency,” he challenged, adding that: “The figures are not consistent.”

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Asiedu Nketiah explains why he didn’t attend NDC Women and Youth Conference

    The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has explained why he did not attend the 10th Women and Youth Conference of his party in Cape Coast.

    Speaking in an interview on XYZ TV monitored by GhanaWeb, Asiedu Nketiah said that he could have attended the conference to encourage the youth of the party, but he did not have any official function to perform there.

    He added that he did not see the need to go there and campaign like others did because he was approaching the delegates in person to ask for their support.

    “I didn’t go there (the conference); I was on the field working. I could have gone, but my absence spoils nothing. Because it was the youth who were going to have their elections, I could have gone there to encourage them, but there was no specific responsibility for me to go and discharge there.

    “Some people were thinking it was an opportunity to campaign. But I see no need for that. The people who went to the conference I am already been meeting them in their constituencies. So, it is a matter of style that somebody wants to meet them in a jamboree,” he said.

    The NDC General Secretary is speaking out for the first time since the leakage of audiovisuals of him saying that the party didn’t have concrete evidence during the 2020 election petition to the Supreme Court.

    On the tape recording that has gone viral, Asiedu Nketiah, affectionately called ‘General Mosquito’ who appeared to be talking to some NDC members in a closed-door meeting, could be heard accusing and blaming the chairman of the party, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, for the party’s shoddy work in relation to the election petition.

    He stated categorically that he denied having the results when he stood in the dock during cross-examination at the Supreme Court, because the NDC had no evidence to back their claim, and if he hadn’t denied it, he would have been disgraced.

    Asiedu Nketiah further revealed that lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata, who defended the party, had earlier refused to stand for the NDC because of the lack of concrete evidence but decided to defend the party after the petition was reviewed.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Asiedu Nketiah not fit to be NDC chairman, says Koku Anyidoho

    The chief executive of the Atta-Mills Institute, Samuel Koku Anyidoho, has said the general secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Johnson Asiedu Nketiah is not fit to be the national chairman and leader of the party.

    Anyidoho’s comment follows a tweet he posted on Monday which read, “I saw Asiedu Nketiah jubilate when NDC led by John Mahama lost in 2016. I can’t forget the trauma I suffered seeing my general secretary rejoice because John Mahama had led the NDC to defeat.”

    Anyidoho indicated that the NDC general secretary has no moral right to aspire for the top post of the party.

    “I use to be his deputy for four years and I don’t think he is fit to become chairman and leader of the NDC,” Anyidoho, the former deputy general secretary of the NDC, exclusively told Asaase News.

    “This is not about John Mahama per-say, John Mahama is an individual and the NDC is bigger than John Mahama.

    “All I am saying is that Asiedu Nketiah does not have what it takes to be chairman and leader because Article 25 of the NDC constitution, as we are in opposition today, whoever is chairman, is also leader until we have a flagbearer,” he added.

    Anyidoho has in the past accused Nketiah of orchestrating the defeat of the party in 2016.

    In a series of tweets on 3 October 2022, Anyidoho revealed that the 65-year-old seasoned politician, popularly referred to as General Mosquito made sure the NDC lost the Tain constituency.

    He stated in his tweets that Nketiah undermined every NDC Chairman he has worked with including the late Dr. Kwabena Adjei, Kofi Portuphy, and Samuel Ofosu Ampofo.

    Anyidoho also threatened to expose Asiedu Nketia adding that “the day Asiedu Nketia becomes Chairman of the NDC, would be the burial date of the party”.

    He further asked Asiedu Nketia; “Where is the land President Atta-Mills bought for the construction of the NDC school?”

  • I’m the necessary condition for an NDC victory in 2024 – Afriyie Ankrah to NDC delegates

    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.

  • NDC chairmanship race: We’ve not endorsed Asiedu Nketiah – Minority

    The Minority in Parliament has distanced itself from its Deputy Whip’s endorsement of Johnson Asiedu Nketiah in the National Democratic Congress chairmanship race.

    In a statement, the Minority said the Deputy Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim’s claim that the NDC caucus in Parliament was supporting Mr. Nketiah was untrue.

    It said the leadership of the Caucus never met on the matter “and have not taken any decision on the matter.”

    It also said the Caucus has not met and has not taken any decision on any of the candidates contesting any position within the Party.

    The Minority added that “the Leadership and the Caucus has no position on any of the candidates vying for the respective positions in the Party.”

    The Minority also said Mr. Ibrahim, who is also the Banda MP, has apologised to the NDC Caucus for the comments.

    “We accordingly urge our rank and file and the public to disregard the purported statement made during the launch.”

    Source: Citinews

  • Asiedu Nketiah has no competition in NDC chairmanship race – Nkrumah Tikese declares

    The long-serving General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah (General Mosquito), has been predicted by Okay FM journalist Kwame Nkrumah Tikese to win the contest for the opposition party’s chairmanship.

    He remarked that he wasn’t sure if anyone would challenge General Mosquito, adding that they would be better off using their campaign funds to stock their wives’ businesses with food and supplies.

    “Starting with the constituency election, the NDC will elect executives.
    If you attend the national executive election, my uncle Johnson Asiedu Nketiah will be running for chairman of the NDC rather than remaining in his position as general secretary.

    “This contest, uncle has won it. I’m not sure anyone is contesting him. Is someone contesting him? I don’t remember. If someone is contesting him, he should use his small campaign money to buy provisions for his wife’s store. That is what will help you,” Tikese said on Ade Akye Abia on October 24.

    It will be recalled that Johnson Asiedu Nketiah formally declared his intention to contest the NDC chairmanship position on October 13 after earlier giving hints.

    In a joint interview on Accra100.5FM and CTV morning shows, the NDC scribe told joint hosts Emmanuel Quarshie (The Hitman) and Nana Otu Darko that: “Yes, I have the intention of picking up a form to contest the chairmanship position when nominations are opened”.

    His declaration meant that he would come up against the incumbent chairman, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, who has also declared his reelection bid.

    Questioned on whether his stance of contesting the chairman position will not bring rivalry between him and the incumbent, Asiedu Nketiah said democracy is meant to bring competition, and so he sees nothing wrong with competing with the incumbent.

    “Is there democracy without rivalry, or are we taking a decision to abandon democracy? That thinking is anti-democratic,” he stated, adding “democracy must bring competition so that the best will emerge….”

    The NDC is expected to hold elections for national executives on December 17,

  • Ofosu Ampofo’s courage was tested at Ayawaso West by-election – Asiedu Nketiah

    The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, says the National Chairman of the party, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo’s courage as a leader was tested during the violent Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election.

    According to him, Mr Ofosu Ampofo’s announcement of the NDC’s withdrawal from that crucial by-election was an outright wrong move.

    The Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election held in 2019 was marred by violence after National Security Operatives brutalized voters resulting in some having their legs broken and being admitted to the hospital.

    Mr Ofosu Ampofo has said he arrived at the decision for the NDC to pull out based on the advice given by the party’s security experts, adding that both ex-President John Mahama and Asiedu Nketia were consulted before the decision was made public.

    But Asiedu Nketiah in an interview on Kasapa 102.5FM/Agoo TV denied consenting to that decision.

    “I was attending a conference in the Dominican Republic as the Vice President of Socialist International when Chairman Ofosu Ampofo called me saying that some vigilantes had fired gunshots all over the place and so he thinks the NDC should withdraw from the election. I told him don’t, it is a bad decision, and that he’ll set a bad precedent in the NDC. I told him with violence or not, the NDC will win so the party shouldn’t withdraw.”

    He added: “Right after I was done with him, I received a call from ex-President Mahama telling me he’s picked up information that Ofosu Ampofo intends to announce the party’s withdrawal, it’s a bad move, tell him he shouldn’t do it. I told him I’d spoken to him (Ofosu Ampofo) not to do so. Shortly after, I saw news flashing of Ofosu Ampofo flanked by the party’s security capos announcing the NDC’s withdrawal from the election. One of the reasons he cited was that the NDC Parliamentary candidate is unable to step out of his room. So if the candidate is not able to come out, should the party withdraw from an election,” Asiedu Nketia asked.

    Asked by the host, Bonohene Baffuor Awuah whether he sees Ofosu Ampofo as a weak leader, Asiedu Nketia responded: “his (Ofosu Ampofo) courage was tested at the battlefield and we all saw the results.”

    “During the election in Jaman North and Banda, I was there at the forefront confronting security officers. The good thing about this is that when you are a leader and there’s any frightening situation where soldiers or police officers are intimidating people and the leader steps up and confronts the situation, your followers become empowered and also stand their ground. It is easy for foot soldiers to be attacked when the leadership abandons them,” Asiedu Nketia added.

     

  • Nobody suffers if other IDs are used for voter registration – Asiedu Nketiah

    The National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has impulsed the Electoral Commission to accept other identification documents as alternatives to the Ghana Card during the upcoming voter registration drive.

    Though the EC has assured that no willing Ghanaian of voting age will be left behind, he argued in a panel discussion on TV that, “If it happens that by that time [future voter registrations happen], everybody has the card, nobody suffers anything.”

    “Why don’t you put in some safeguards in case that projection doesn’t turn out to be as you expect, then there is a safeguard to deal with the shortcoming, and you are rather closing all the safeguards and banking your hope on somebody’s promise.” Director of Electoral Services at the Electoral Commission, Serebour Quaicoe has said on several platforms that the EC intends to make the Ghana Card the sole means of identification during the
    voter registration exercise.

    According to him, the decision to use the Ghana Card is to prevent chaos at polling stations during elections. He cited confusion that emerged out of the 2020 election at the polling stations.

    Meanwhile, on the EC’s website as of September 27, 2022, only two modes of identification have been outlined. They are; a valid National
    Identification Card (Ghana Card) and a passport. This could mean that the EC is yet to update their website on the new identification process. In the absence of the valid ID’s above, an applicant must submit one completed Identification Guarantee Form endorsed by two voters. A proposed C.I. titled Public Regulations 2021 is anticipated to govern the next continuous voter registration campaign and is intended to replace these documents with the Ghana Card as the new law. Mr. Nketiah also stressed that the EC should not only rely on the National Identification Authority to execute its plans for future elections.

  • NDC extends nominations deadline

    The Functional Executive Committee of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has extended the deadline for picking of nomination forms for its upcoming constituency elections.

    The NDC in a statement today [Thursday, September 22, 2022] said it extended the deadline in view of some challenges its members across the country had encountered.

    The picking of the nomination forms was slated to end on Thursday, September 22, 2022. However, the party has extended the date by two more days, meaning that the new deadline ends on Saturday, 24th September, 2022.

    According to the party, all other processes on the approved internal elections timetable remains unchanged.

    It further directed all Constituency Secretariats of the party to take note of the extension of the deadline and comply accordingly.

    Below is the statement

    For Immediate Release:
    22nd September, 2022

    EXTENSION OF DEADLINE FOR PICKING OF NOMINATION FORMS.

    The Functional Executive Committee of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has taken notice of widespread concerns from various parts of the country over the picking of nomination forms for the upcoming Constituency elections.These concerns have centered around network and other challenges relative to the download of forms.

    In view of this, FEC has effective today, extended the deadline for picking of nomination forms by an additional two days, to end on Saturday, 24th September, 2022. All other processes on the approved internal elections timetable of the party remains unchanged.

    All Constituency Secretariates of the party should take note of this directive and comply accordingly.

    Signed,

    Johnson Asiedu Nketiah
    (General Secretary)

    Source: Graphiconline.com

  • History of Ghana, NDC incomplete without Asiedu Nketiah – Afriyie-Ankrah

    Director of Elections, National Democratic Congress (NDC), Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, has hailed the Party’s General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, saying the history of Ghana and NDC is incomplete without him.

    Mr Nketiah has publicly declared his intention not to seek re-election as General Secretary of the NDC in the Party’s upcoming national congress, after 17 years as chief scribe.

    In an audio message, Mr Afriyie-Ankrah, who is seeking to replace Mr Nketiah as General Secretary, described the latter as “a great personality”.

    “He is a great personality and definitely an institution, and he has made the necessary impact that anybody could make within the political system, and indeed the history of this country and the history of the NDC would definitely not be complete without talking about his major role over the past 17 years”, Mr Afriyie-Ankrah said.

    Mr Afriyie-Ankrah added that, “He (Mr Nketiah) has been an inspiration to all of us, just as some of us aspire to step in his shoes, we can continue to count on his wisdom, guidance and store-house of knowledge.”

    The NDC will hold its Constituency elections between October 22 and 23, 2022, while the regional elections would be held between November 12 and 13, 2022.

    The National Congress will be held on December 17, 2022.

    About 7,900 executives are expected to be elected in a total of 876 elections at the constituency, regional, and national elections scheduled for the next three months.

    Mr Nketiah, who had served as General Secretary of the NDC since 2005, in a radio interview on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, said the time had come for him to hang his boots as General Secretary and allow others to also serve the Party in that capacity

    Asked if he would be contesting other positions in the upcoming election, Mr Nketiah said he would announce it when the time comes.

    Mr Nketiah led the NDC to power in 2008, and 2012 elections.

    The Party, under his stewardship as General Secretary also lost the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, sharing the spoils with the New Patriotic Party in the 2020 parliamentary elections.

     

  • NDC extends nominations deadline

    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Functional Executive Committee has extended the window for submitting candidacy papers for the upcoming constituency elections.

    In a statement released today (Thursday, September 22, 2022), the NDC claimed it has extended the deadline due to difficulties some of its members had encountered around the nation.

    On Thursday, September 22, 2022, the selection of the nomination forms was supposed to come to a close.
    The party has nevertheless added two additional days to the deadline, thus the new expiration date is now Saturday, September 24, 2022.

    According to the party, all other processes on the approved internal elections timetable remains unchanged.

    It further directed all Constituency Secretariats of the party to take note of the extension of the deadline and comply accordingly.

    Below is the statement

    For Immediate Release:
    22nd September, 2022

    EXTENSION OF DEADLINE FOR PICKING OF NOMINATION FORMS.

    The Functional Executive Committee of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has taken notice of widespread concerns from various parts of the country over the picking of nomination forms for the upcoming Constituency elections.These concerns have centered around network and other challenges relative to the download of forms.

    In view of this, FEC has effective today, extended the deadline for picking of nomination forms by an additional two days, to end on Saturday, 24th September, 2022. All other processes on the approved internal elections timetable of the party remains unchanged.

    All Constituency Secretariates of the party should take note of this directive and comply accordingly.

    Signed,

    Johnson Asiedu Nketiah
    (General Secretary)

  • Asiedu Nketiah will not contest as General Secretary in upcoming NDC congress

    General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, will not contest in the party’s upcoming congress scheduled for December 17.

    The veteran politician said it’s time for him to make way for others to take over the administration of the party.

    According to him, the position demands a lot.

    “Age plays a major role in everything. This job of a General Secretary involves a lot; your time, energy, among others.”

    “I have considered all these, and I am of the firm view that I won’t contest again. What I am saying is that I won’t seek re-election as General Secretary,” Mr Nketiah said in an interview with Accra-based Radio Gold on Wednesday, September 21.

    However, when quizzed about his next move, he declined to answer, saying he will announce same at a later date.

    However, political analysts have said he will be contesting for the National Chairmanship position of the party.

    Mr Nketiah became NDC General Secretary in 2005.

    The party is expected to go to congress on December 17, to elect new national officers.

    The likes of Peter Boamah Otokunor and Elvis Afriyie Ankrah have declared their intention to contest the position.

    Source: Myjoyonline.com

  • NPP outspent us in the 2020 General Elections – Afriyie Ankrah

    Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, a candidate for the position of General Secretary in the National Democratic Congress (NDC), claimed that the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) won the 2020 General Election because they spent a fortune on their campaign.

    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.

     

  • Your insults wouldnt stop me – Duffour tells Asiedu Nketia

    Former Finance Minister, Dr Kwabena Duffour, has opined that no amount of attacks or insults will distract him from continuing with the Ahotor Project for the NDC grassroots.

    He was responding to a recent warning aimed at him by the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah.

    In an interview with journalists in Accra, the NDC flagbearre hopeful said he cannot reply his attackers in the same measure but will only continue to help the poor through his donations.

    The NDC scribe has accused the former Bank of Ghana governor of personalising the Ahotor Project after he visited some constituencies in the Ashanti Region to donate to party members without the knowledge of national executives.

    “If Dr Duffour intends to make this donation to the party a genuine donation, he should be prepared to pass through the proper channels,” Mr Asiedu Nketia told journalists on the sidelines of the 2nd Annual Lawyers Conference of the party.

    But in a swift response, Dr Duffour, said he has been motivated to help the vulnerable through the Ahotor Project to strengthen not only the party but also the country.

    “No amount of insults [and] attacks will stop me from what I want to do for you,” he said.

    He reminded all that he started business as far back as 1984 and will not capitalise on the Ahotor Project for any special gains as alleged by some.

    “I feel in me that I should help people and I am helping.”

    Dr. Duffour is the brain behind the NDC Ahotor Project which is supporting the grassroots of the NDC with funds.

    Source: Pulse

  • Asiedu Nketiah gets invite to Ghana Media Music And Dinner Night

    The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has received a high powered-delegation from organizers of the maiden annual Ghana Media Music and Dinner Night scheduled for July 30, 2022, at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).

    The courtesy call led by Dr Bernard BNA Yartey, the CEO of Lakeside Village, was to officially invite the outspoken political leader and some party executives and also seek their blessings.

    The NDC scribe commended the organizers of the event, Lakeside Village and Net Village for the initiative.

    He said the media plays a vital role in nation-building, and it was appropriate to set a day aside to dine and network with them.

    The Lakeside Village boss said “We thought through and realized how important the media is, so we decided to come up with this dinner gala.

    “It is not an award ceremony, the media all over the world go through a lot of stress, resulting in the death of many. There will be a lot to eat and drink on the evening, we believe it will go a long way to destress them and bring them together to network in a relaxed atmosphere.”

     

    Source: Graphic Showbiz

     

  • NDC will abolish E-Levy within 100 days in office Asiedu Nketia



    The General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has revealed the NDC government will abolish E-Levy when they assume power should it be passed.

    According to him, the E-Levy will be the first tax to be abolished in their first hundred days in office as it’s a daylight robbery and not taxation.

    Addressing the crowd gathered at the Obra Spot demonstrating against the E-levy dubbed “Yentua Demo” today, Thursday, 10 February 2022, Asiedu Nketiasaid, “Let me tell you all right now that in the unlikely event the e-levy is passed, we will abolish it, and it will be the first tax to be abolished within the first 100 days of a future NDC government because we don’t see it as a tax, it is daylight robbery, this is not taxation.

    “That is not to say we will not be taking other taxes, but we are saying this is thievery, it is not tax based on any production, it’s not tax based on any value addition, it is daylight robbery, taking people’s capital from their pockets because they chose not to keep the money in their pockets but to keep it on momo wallets.”

    The Youth Wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is currently protesting against the passage of the Electronic Transactions Levy (E-levy) presented by the government.

    This follows previous messages by the opposition and minority members to the effect that they are against the tax, which will burden Ghanaians more than they already are.

    The protest is also to register displeasure with the ongoing UTAG strike and the government’s inability to resolve the situation.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Why NDC didnt back #FixTheCountry campaign Asiedu Nketiah discloses

    The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, also known as General Mosquito has debunked claims that they were the masterminds behind the #Fixthecountry campaign.

    A few weeks ago, a section of Ghanaians took to social media to protest over what they describe as “bad governance and the high cost of living” in a campaign dubbed #Fixthecountry.

    The hashtag which trended for weeks followed an increase in prices of fuel, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

    Some communicators of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) accused the NDC of sponsoring the campaign.

    However, General Mosquito denies giving the conveners any form of backing.

    “If we did that; NPP would have used us as the mobilizing tool; helping them in the end”

    “Moreover, these are issues we’ve raised already and it’s good individuals have taken them up and leading the fight. Joining them will change it into an NDC, NPP affair” he said in a one-on-one interview on UTV.

    Source: peacefmonline.com

  • Alban Bagbin, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu clash again over Asiedu Nketia’s appointment

    Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament and the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, have again clashed, this time, over the appointment of Johnson Asiedu Nketia onto the Parliamentary Service Board.

    Asiedu Nketia was on Monday, March 29 confirmed as part of the six-member board which is chaired by the Speaker of Parliament.

    A special advisory committee report on the appointment had suggested that the appointment of Asiedu Nketia would amount to an intrusion of parliament.

    “It is considered by some members of the committee that the membership of Mr Asiedu Nketia amounts to an undesired intrusion into the governance of Parliament by a political party and may not in the circumstances bode well for the independence of Parliament since he is the General-Secretary of a major opposition political party.

    “Notwithstanding, Mr Speaker is the person clothed with the authority to appoint the other four persons, who together with the Clerk-to-Parliament constitute the Parliamentary Service Board. It is also our considered opinion that Mr Speaker will do what is appropriate,” the letter as quoted by the Daily Graphic reads.

    But Bagbin who expressed heartfelt appreciation to the committee allayed fears that the appointment of Asiedu Nketia is tantamount to the intrusion of Parliament.

    “But I want to note that the former Parliamentary Service Board had Honourable Hackman Owusu-Agyeman as a member of the board and Hackman Owusu Agyeman later became the Chairman of the Council of Elders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    “That one was not [an] intrusion into the governance of Parliament by a political party. What is good for the gander is also good for the goose. Honourable members the board will be constituted and we will start our work,” he said.

    Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority Leader, however, dissented to the views of Alban Bagbin.

    Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said that he disagreed with Alban Bagbin but will not challenge his ruling.

    “The reason is if I should challenge every ruling, and maybe there is a debate on it and Mr Speaker’s ruling is brought down, I have succeeded in doing it, inflicting a mortal wound on the chair and that will bring the repute of this House down.

    “I will never do that because it is for us to protect the Speakership and I will ever do that. So, I refuse any bait to challenge the ruling of the Speaker,” he said.

    Members of the Board

    Aside Bagbin and Asiedu Nketia, the other four members of the board are the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Leader of Government Business in Parliament, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Mr Abraham Osei Aidoo, who is a former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament and former Majority Leader and Cyril Nsiah, the Clerk of Parliament.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com