Nana Kojo Toku Re-Elected NDC Western Regional Chairman in Narrow Victory

Nana Kojo Toku has retained his position as Western Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), securing a narrow victory in the party's regional executive elections held on Saturday.

Toku polled 225 votes to defeat his closest contender, Samuel Kwame Borlu, who garnered 209 votes. Hon. George Arthur placed third with 114 votes. The results cement Toku's grip on the regional party machinery for another four-year term, though the margin was significantly tighter than his landslide re-election in 2022, when he polled 415 votes against a single challenger .

A Record of Electoral Delivery

The incumbent's campaign hinged heavily on his track record in the 2024 general elections, when the NDC secured 15 of the 17 parliamentary seats in the Western Region—a historic high-water mark for the party in what had long been considered competitive territory . Under Toku's leadership, the NDC flipped constituencies including Essikado-Ketan, Mpohor, Shama, Ahanta West, and Tarkwa, consolidating the region as a key pillar of the party's national resurgence .

Supporters had argued that replacing Toku would interrupt the momentum built over the past election cycle, particularly as the party sets its sights on capturing the two remaining parliamentary seats in the region. His campaign message centred on an ambition to make the Western Region entirely "green" for the NDC and transform it into the party's "Second World Bank" .

The Contest

The chairmanship race was the marquee contest of the regional conference, with 54 aspirants vying for various executive positions . Borlu, the incumbent First Vice Chairman, had positioned himself as the principal challenger, arguing that the 2024 electoral achievement was a collective effort involving constituency executives, parliamentary candidates, and grassroots supporters—not solely the chairman's doing . His camp also raised concerns about internal cohesion and the welfare of party members, insisting the next chairman must prioritise unity and grassroots mobilisation.

George Arthur, a three-time former Member of Parliament, placed a distant third.

Full Results

In the vice-chairmanship race, Alhaji Iddrisu Mustapha was elected First Vice Chairman with 217 votes, while Daniel K. B. Eshun secured the Second Vice Chairman position with 119 votes.

Suleman Yahaya Anafo won the Deputy Secretary position with 165 votes. Richard Ernest Kirk-Mensah was elected Communications Officer after polling 306 votes against Eric Kwaku Kyeremah's 231. Daniel Nketsiah secured the Deputy Communications Officer position with 238 votes.

Charles Adu-Fordjour won the Regional Organiser position with 312 votes, while Clifford Ayirebi Acquah was elected Deputy Organiser with 256 votes. Hajia Sadika Yakubu won the Deputy Women Organiser position with 23 votes, and Abdul Hakeem Mahama secured the Youth Organiser position with 51 votes. Jones Adom was elected Deputy Youth Organiser, while Mensah Kweku Emmanuel was listed as Second Deputy Youth Organiser.

Hafiz Alasco won the Zongo Caucus Coordinator position with 311 votes, defeating Alhaji Abubakari Kamal, who polled 237 votes.

Daniel Darlington Atitso was unopposed for the Treasurer position, Marian Plange-Kwofie was unopposed for Deputy Treasurer, and Gladys Egyin was unopposed for Women Organiser.

George Dadzie Junior polled 324 votes in the Secretary race—the highest among the five candidates. The results provided did not, however, explicitly indicate the declared winner of that contest.

What It Means

The Western Region election forms part of the NDC's nationwide process of selecting regional executives ahead of the party's national executive elections scheduled for December 19, 2026, and positioning for the 2028 general elections. The newly elected executives will be tasked with strengthening grassroots structures, maintaining internal cohesion, and building on the party's 2024 gains.

For Toku, the narrower margin serves as a reminder that his second term will require balancing the expectations of a party buoyed by electoral success with the internal pressures that come with managing competing ambitions. His supporters' slogan—"you don't change a winning team"—carried the day, but only just .

---

Related: NDC Central Regional chairmanship: Richard Asiedu demands recount after reported defeat