Ashanti NDC Ready For Congress

A total of 436 delegates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ashanti Region will today go to the polls to elect the party�s regional chairman. Two of the three contestants � Yaw Obimpeh and Thomas Kwaku Braimah � yesterday engaged in last-minute lobbying for votes. The NDC chairmanship race in the region has virtually split party members, with some supporting the re-election bid of the incumbent, Yaw Obimpeh, while others are solidly behind his main challenger, T. K. Braimah, who is purported to be enjoying support from the presidency. Dominic Anomah, the other candidate, is considered the underdog, having conducted a low key campaign so far. The delegates � made up of 15 regional executive members, 376 constituency executives, 30 MDCEs, four ministers, eight founding fathers and three national executives � are expected to start voting at exactly 8:00 am at the Ahinsan Youth Centre, the venue for the elections. They are expected to elect new officers among 67 aspirants for the regional executive positions. Positions Up For Grabs Mr. Frank Osei Mensah, who was initially gunning for the regional chairman position, pulled out of the race and threw his support behind T. K. Braimah. So far, nine people are fighting for the two vice chairmanship slots. They are Akwasi Abeyie, Anarfi Mensah, Alhaji Muntari Kasim, Osma Baba Yaya, Augustus Andrew, Ratia Kojo Koffie, Alhaji Osei Bosie, Daniel Apan Oshieman and Alex Ativor, the incumbent vice chairman. For the regional secretary post, Raymond Tando is looking forward to retaining the position. He has acted since Joseph Yammin was appointed deputy minister. He is battling it out with Michael Amedior, a former referee and Non-Formal Education Director of the region. For the regional organiser position, four people � Rashid Alhassan, Obeng Adutwum, Samuel Owusu Kankam and Kwaku Anikora Sie � have decided to unseat the incumbent, Alhaji Sannie. The deputy regional secretary position also has four people contending � Godwin Dela, Kwame Zu, Musah, Degraft Coleman and Samuel Pinkrah, while five filed to contest the position of the deputy youth organizer. They are Bashiru Dombine, Awal Mohammed, Benjamin Agble, Usman Abdullah and Asiedu Keteke. Ibrahim Justice�s position as treasurer is under threat from two challengers, Alex Osman and Alhaji Mohammed Abass, and his deputy faces stiff competition from Edith Amamoo, Ama Hanson and Alhaji Anas Abdullah. The regional propaganda secretary slot is up for grab by nine people, including Alex Yaw Opoku, Solomon Anane, Opoku Bediako Kestis, Cecelia Tumutuo, Robert Owusu Tilton, Hopeson Keku, Anane Solomon, Joseph Sulemana and Nayang Sulemana.