<<Print>>

Days after perceived supporters of President Evans Atta Mills were painfully defeated by loyalists of the founder of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Flt, Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, at the Greater Accra Regional Conference of the party, the scale has turned in favour of the former, as his loyalists have swept all executive positions at the youth and women congresses held at Sunyani and Winneba respectively. At the National Youth Conference at Sunyani, where Mr. Kofi Adams, an aide to Mr. Rawlings, assumed the position of campaign manager for Abubakar Sidii. Mr. Ludwig Akpene Hlodze, also an aide to President Mills, polled 385 votes as against Sidii�s 298, to wear the shoes of Mr Haruna Iddrisu, as National Youth Organizer. Whilst perceived supporters of the nation�s Chief Executive were sweeping all the positions at the National Youth Congress, the same story was being told at the Women�s Conference. Ms. Anita De-Souza, a known �enemy� of the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, polled 175 votes to become the party�s National Women�s Organizer replacing, Mad Ama Benyiwa-Doe, now the Central Regional Minister. Though the machinery of 31st December Women�s Movement was allegedly used to support Mad. Doris Adoo, she still lost miserably to Anita De-Souza, a former deputy propaganda secretary Others who contested for the position were Alice Boom, a former legislator, and Ms. Mariam Sinare Anita De-Souza indicated her preparedness to transform the women�s wing of the NDC. She commended the delegates for reposing confidence in her. On his part, the National Youth Organiser, Mr. Ludwig Hlodze, whose deputy, Babara Serwah Asamoah, also beat Mr. Courage Kobby Barlon with a slim margin to win the position, noted that he was ready to work with all his competitors in the supreme interest of the NDC. According to him, the youth wing needed to adopt and plan a strategy to identify the potentials of the youth, and maximize it. �We are going to champion the youth in agriculture projects and other areas that we shall deem fit for the growth of the youth.� He said. At the conference, the former national organizer, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, now the Minister of Communications, commended the youth for support his tenure, and urged the party members to rally behind the new leaders. A lot of ministers and deputy ministers were in attendance to witness the election. They include Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a deputy Minister of Information, Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, deputy Minister of Local government, Dr. Hannah Bissiw, deputy Minister of Water and Housing, Dr. Omani Boamah, Deputy Minister of Science, Environment and Technology, and Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, a vice chairmanship contender. Loyalists of President Mills have declared that they would not sit down unconcerned, for people to pluck individuals that could help transform the fortunes of the party. Members of the party were awakened when Danny Anang, and aspiring national vice chairman of the NDC, suffered defeat as the Greater Accra Regional Chairman, when agents of the former first family openly campaigned against Danny Anang in the full glare of prominent members of the party.