It's been more than 12 hours since voting commenced at the 9th National Delegates Congress of the NDC but there's no clear end in sight as delegates, observers and journalists resort to the discomfort of tables and chairs as resting grounds.
Voting has been at a snail's pace with three more regions yet to vote as at 5am on Sunday, November18, 2018.
Meanwhile issues of spoilt ballots appear to be a significant worry for the NDC particularly in the race for Vice Chairpersons of the party. Some delegates are ignorantly voting for 3 out of 9 candidates on the ballot sheet even though the party's rules suggest the top 3 candidates with the highest individual votes are the ones who will be considered for the position of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Vice Chairpersons. This means a vote for more than one person on the ballot paper annuls the validity of the said vote.
Background
The National Democratic Congress is electing executives who will lead the party in its quest to unseat the governing New Patriotic Party in the 2020 general elections.
The importance of this Delegates’ congress cannot be overemphasized as the party hopes the new crop of executives will lead the team to oust the incumbent party.
Chairman of the Planning Committee Alex Segbefia confidently asserted that by the time the new executives are ready to go through another delegates elections, the NDC will be the government in power.
About 15,000 people, made up of 9,350 delegates and 5,650 observers, are expected to throng the premise to decide the fate of the 65 candidates vying for various positions.
So far, the race for the National Chairman and the General Secretary seem to be the one generate most interest among the citizenry.
Perhaps the most revered and favourite politician of Ghanaians, Johnson Asiedu Nketia is for the first time in a long time facing stiff opposition from his second in command, Koku Anyidoho who has vowed to unseat his boss as the General Secretary in this keen contest.
For the position of the National Chairman, five stalwarts of the party are vying. They are a former Trade and Industry Minister and former NDC MP for Keta, Mr Dan Abodakpi; the party’s former Director of Elections, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo; a former Attorney General and current Vice-Chairperson, Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu; a businessman, Mr Daniel Anang, and Alhaji Huudu Yahaya.
The incumbent, Kofi Portuphy however decided to sit this one out by not seeking re-election.
Mr. Alex Segbefia outlined the breakdown of 65 candidates aspiring for the various positions. “The General Secretary is an all-male affair and we have 2 aspirants, the Deputy General Secretary position we have 11 aspirants; 10 males and 1 female. For the National Organiser position we have 7 aspirants; 6 males and 1 female, the Deputy National Organiser position we have 9 aspirants; 8 males and 1 female and for the National Communication position there are two aspirants and they are all male.”
He said 6 male aspirants are contesting for the Deputy National Communication position whereas 8 aspirants are contesting for National Executive Committee Membership position; they are 7 males and a female.
“For the National Zongo Caucus Coordinator, we have 6 aspirants all of whom are male”, he added.
Two constituencies barred
Two constituencies; Affram Plains South and Kade, both in the Eastern Region will not take part in the congress for the reason that they have not been able to hold elections at the branch level.
Also barred from the elections are some foreign branches of the party, for the same reason.
What the affected constituencies and branches can do is attend the congress as observers but not as delegates.
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NDC decides its National Executives for 2020 and beyond