Ghanaweb’s online poll has separated former Deputy General Secretary, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah apart from his contenders in the battle for the Chief Executive Officer position of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in its Next National delegate congress.
After bagging 63% of virtual votes casted by over 46,000 users of the most popular news portal in Ghana, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah only has to convert his popularity into real votes while his opponents are left with the task to convince both the public and the delegates that they have the capacity to fit into the big shoes of Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, known affectionately as General Mosquitoe come December 17, 2022.
Former Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ketu South Constituency, Franklin Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey, current deputy general secretary, Dr. Peter Boamah Otukunor and three times unlucky contender, Abdul Ishan Farakhan as well as Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, the current director of elections have all expressed their intentions to succeed General Asiedu Nketiah.
Out of a total votes of 46,000, a whooping 290,048 people representing over 63% of the respondents have opted for Elvis Afriyie Ankrah as the perfect replacement to the combatant Asiedu Nketia who has declared his intention not to contest the General Secretary position he has served for the last 17years.
Although many had expected Elvis Afriyie Ankrah and Fiifi Kwetey to give each other a hot chase, Peter Otukunor, the incumbent deputy General Secretary pulled a surprise, taking the second position with 12,5063 votes, representing 27% of the total poll which.
Ex-Member of Parliament for Ketu South and Ishan Farakhan polled 3,578 and 226 respectively, representing 8 percent and 1 percent respectively to trail at the bottom.
Among the four contestants, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah is known to have greater experience ahead of third place Fiifi Kwetey and Peter Otukunor whose first national executive roll is just about to come to an end.
Most participants have said that the NDC would be expecting to elect a new Chief Executive Officer who has the capability to hold the party together as a force to defeat the incumbent NPP. Experience, and tact would count for the coordination of duty to bring the needed victory.
Profiles
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah
Elvis Ankrah was a parliamentary candidate in Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency in the December 2000 elections representing the National Democratic Congress.
He became the Deputy General Secretary of the party between 2001 to 2008
Deputy National Campaign Manager for the 2008 and National Campaign Coordinator for 2012 Presidential Campaigns of the National Democratic Congress and both Presidents, John Atta Mills and John Dramani Mahama.
He was also appointed Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Minister of Youth and Sports and the Minister of State at the office of the president under Prof. Mills and John Mahama.
Peter Otokunor
The outgoing Deputy General Secretary of the NDC was formerly appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority under the late President, Prof. Mills as well as a research officer at the Presidency during ex-President John Mahama’s era
Prior to becoming the Deputy General Secretary of the party, Dr. Otokunor also served as Deputy Director of Research of the NDC and the Registrar for the Ghana Institute of Social Democracy (GISD).
Fiifi Kwetey
He first burst into the political limelights after serving as student leader of the NDC while at the University of Ghana. He would later be elected as the propaganda secretary of the party, a post he discharged creditably and was subsequently appointed Deputy Finance Minister, Minister of state and substantive minister for Food and Agriculture under the erstwhile NDC administration