General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, appears ready to slug it out with Samuel Ofosu Ampofo for the position of the National Chairman of the main opposition party.
Responding to questions on his bid to annex the chairmanship slot on Okay FM, Mr. Asiedu Nketia, who is popularly known as General Mosquito, said no position in the party is the personal property of the occupant.
General Mosquito, who has held the NDC General Secretary position for four consecutive terms, said, “We don’t contest human beings; we contest for positions. Positions in the party are not the preserve of some people. After four years, your mandate expires and you put yourself up for another election in the same spot or something new if you want,” he argued.
The incumbent Chairman, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, had indicated that he would beat anyone who dares contest him.
But his General Secretary insists no one can claim a reserve of any position in the party.
“When it is time for elections, people will contest for positions they think they are fit for,” he stated.
Mr. Ofosu Ampofo recently announced his decision to seek re-election for another four years, indicating that the NDC has been made attractive under his stewardship.
He likened himself to Jesus Christ when he was asked by his disciples whether he was the Messiah, adding that delegates must not look beyond him, pledging to take the party to the ‘promised land.’
Ofosu Ampofo, on Kumasi-based Oyerepa TV, urged the NDC members not to change the team that turned around the fortunes of the party after it suffered the humiliating political defeat in 2016.
“I liken myself to Christ when he was asked by the disciples if he is the Messiah. Jesus made the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, what more do you want to see? I am the National Chairman of the party.
“The party was in disarray due to our humiliating defeat in the 2016 election. It wasn’t attractive at the time, but I played a key role together with my team to turn the fortunes of the party during the 2020 elections,” he stated.
Achievement Touted
“Under my leadership, we have a hung parliament, that’s not all. We also have a Speaker from our party. This has never happened before, so if you are looking for the messiah in the NDC, look no further than Samuel Ofosu Ampofo,” he posited.
He contended that if not for the use of state-sponsored security personnel, the NDC would have won more parliamentary seats in the 2020 elections, and mentioned Techiman South, Tarkwa Nsuaem, Zabzugu, and Essikado Ketan as some of the seats won by the party.
He believes the party is “experiencing revolution and transformation” under his leadership, and that he is capable of helping the NDC to regain political power.
These, he said, underscored his competence, asking the party people to renew his mandate.
BY Daniel Bampoe