The apparent failure by the General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, to declare his intent of whether to contest again as the party’s general secretary or race for the national chairmanship position, is said to be holding down the political career of others.
The umbrella family has begun preparations for its internal elections, namely; branch, constituency, regional and the national executives, following the successful National Delegates’ Conference by the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
But ahead of the all-important exercises, reliable information on the desk of The Anchor, indicates that the posturing of the party’s General Secretary is not sitting well with the grassroots.
Mr. Asiedu Nketiah, who has served as General Secretary for almost 20-years, is being accused of indirectly impeding the political careers of some ambitious NDC members, who are aspiring to succeed him.
The Anchor has gathered that the 65-year-old Nketiah, having served the NDC as chief scribe since 2005, is eyeing the national chairmanship position, which is currently being occupied by Samuel Ofosu Ampofo.
However, this intention of the veteran politician, who is popularly referred to as General Mosquito, has not been articulated clearly by him, as far as, the coming internal elections of the party are concerned.
Interestingly, his failure to indicate, whether or not, he will contest the chairmanship position on time, appears to be causing more harm than good, to the likes of a former Minister for Youth and Sports, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah and former Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ketu South constituency, Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey.
Same is affecting one of Mr Nketia’s protégé, Peter Boamah Otukunor, who recently graduated with a doctorate degree in Agriculture Economics and Policy from the University of Ghana; as he also eyes the seat.
Reports suggest that the aforementioned individuals have all expressed interest in contesting for the General Secretary position, but they do not want to do so when General Mosquito is still contesting to retain it.
This paper earlier gathered that the General Secretary hopefuls had refrained from openly declaring their intention; but it appears they are now getting fed up.
Already, Mr Kwetey has come indicating that, he will contest for the position, if only General Mosquito doesn’t contest.
“I definitely intend to help my party, but I will make a formal announcement when the process is ready. But I have indicated at several places that if the current General Secretary does not run again, I will, definitely, be announcing my candidature when the time is due”, he said on Citi TV‘s Face to Face programme.
Fiifi Kwetey, who has held various positions in the previous NDC governments, said his plan is not borne out of the fear of competition, but rather because of respect for the good works of Mr. Nketiah during his period in the role.
“Why contest him if he is doing a good job? My view is that if he was doing a disastrous job, then I think we should take him out. I don’t see this as a personal project at all. It is not about fear, but as far as a good job is being done, the joy for some of us is to support.
But if he who has held a position and has done great, does not want to run again, then there is the need for someone to step in and try to keep the party”, Kwetey added.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah, who has served in various capacities in the NDC has held on to that seat for 17 years as the third General Secretary succeeding Huudu Yahaya in 2005.
In that election, for instance, he won with almost 80 percent of the valid votes cast. In 2010 in Koforidua, he retained his position with an overwhelming 93 percent.
At the last delegates’ conference at the International Trades Fair Centre in Accra, he beat his only contender who happened to be one of his deputies, Samuel Koku Anyidoho, who has since been dismissed from the NDC, for anti-party activities.
The influence and rich experience of Mr Asiedu Nketia, is not in doubt, reason, Mr Afriyie Ankrah who was one-time a deputy general secretary and others did not want to contest him.
The last time the likes of Koku tried it in 2018, he had the humiliation of his life, following which the former Communications Director at the Presidency, under late President John Atta Mills, has not forgiven him.
It is said that, it is this debacle that the three persons mentioned above do not want to experience; reason they want General Mosquito to come out boldly.
According to sources close to the party, in the event that Mr. Asiedu Nketia decides to contest for the 5th consecutive term, they will shelve their intentions for now, for the future.
But in the event that he moves to contest the national chairmanship position, they will declare their intentions.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo has already declared his intention to contest for his retention, as national chairman.
Meanwhile, the alleged attempt by the General Secretary to contest for the national chairman has rattled certain feathers in the party.
One of such is the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bawku Central constituency, who has asked the NDC scribe not to contest Mr Ofosu Ampofo.
According to the MP, the two vying for the singular seat at this time will greatly hurt the party going into the 2024 elections.
“We have confidence in the two of them and so we want them to remain to work together, but if they force us to have to make a choice, it will be a difficult choice; but we will prefer that the two of them find a way of continuing to work together.
I don’t see the difference between the powers of General Secretary vis-à-vis the National Chairman, if you ask me”.
Ayariga continued: “The General Secretary is more of the engine of the party; so, to move yourself from General Secretary and go to chairmanship, I don’t know what will happen, but I prefer that they are all there because Asiedu Nketiah, in a way, has become the soul of the party, everybody in the party likes.
Asiedu Nketiah, the grassroots like him, everybody feels that he worked very hard for the party. At the same, they also have respect for the chairman of the party. So he is putting us in a very difficult situation, given that it is not the chairman who wants to go and contest General, it is he who wants to go and contest the chairman”.
