NDC Chairmanship Race Narrows to Four as Vetting Disqualifies 23 Aspirants

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has cleared four candidates to contest its National Chairmanship position after the party's vetting committee disqualified 23 aspirants across various national executive races ahead of next month's Ninth Delegates Congress.

The four cleared chairmanship hopefuls are incumbent National Vice-Chairman Sofo Azorka, former Local Government Minister Akwasi Oppong-Fosu, former Klottey Korle MP Nii Armah Ashietey, and former Odododiodio MP Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye.

Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, spokesperson for the Congress Elections Committee, announced the vetting outcomes at a press briefing held at Rawlings House, the party's headquarters in Accra, on Thursday evening.

Scale of Disqualifications

Of the 121 aspirants scheduled for vetting across 14 national executive positions, one failed to appear, leaving 120 to be assessed. The committee cleared 98 candidates and disqualified 23.

The heaviest casualties occurred in the National Executive Committee race, where 49 aspirants filed but only 32 were cleared, resulting in 16 disqualifications. In the National Youth Organiser contest, four filed with two cleared, while all six aspirants for Deputy National Youth Organiser passed vetting.

Dr. Otokunor attributed nearly all disqualifications to a failure to meet a requirement set by the party constitution for national executive aspirants. One individual never completed the filing process and was therefore never vetted.

Uncontested Victories

Five officers will be sworn in unopposed at the congress. Incumbent General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey retains his position, alongside Joseph Yammin for National Organiser and Godwin Ako-Gunn for Communications Officer. The two Deputy Women's Organiser slots also go uncontested, as only two of the four nominees passed vetting.

The uncontested races underscore a consolidation of the current leadership structure, particularly for Kwetey, who has been a vocal advocate for the party's internal "reset" agenda.

Appeals and Campaign Rules

Disqualified aspirants have two days to appeal the committee's decision. Should the appeals committee rule in a candidate's favour, the individual will be reinstated to the ballot and their name published.

Cleared candidates may now campaign nationwide and will receive delegate lists. Dr. Otokunor urged aspirants to avoid insults and personal attacks, adding that campaign materials such as billboards, banners and posters must follow the party's modesty guidelines. He noted that candidates have so far complied well and that the party is monitoring them closely.

The directive follows earlier instructions from the Functional Executive Committee restricting campaign materials to a maximum of five feet by eight feet and limiting their display to designated party offices and election grounds — a move intended to prevent extravagance and ensure a level playing field.

Road to Congress

Nominations ran from November 7 to 9, with 121 of the 138 individuals who picked up forms officially filing their candidacies. Vetting began on November 11.

The Youth and Women's Wing elections are scheduled for December 13 and 14, culminating in the national executive elections at the Ninth Delegates Congress on December 19. In accordance with party rules, government appointees are barred from contesting executive posts unless they have resigned their positions — a measure designed to separate party administration from official state duties.

Background

The chairmanship field was initially expected to be more crowded, but the withdrawal of former National Chairman Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo earlier this week significantly altered the dynamics. The remaining four candidates represent a mix of current party administrators in Azorka and former government officials in Oppong-Fosu, Ashietey and Vanderpuye.

The elections are taking place as the NDC, under President John Mahama, pursues a "reset" agenda. General Secretary Kwetey has publicly argued that the party must put Ghana first and clean up its internal act to remain a credible vehicle for national transformation.