Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, a former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), is emerging as the biggest contender in the battle for the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) position of the largest opposition party at its next national delegate congress.
The NDC, is in for an accountable leadership and the 55-year old, Mr Afriyie Ankrah, appears to best fit the bill, especially for the General Secretary position as Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, alias “General Mosquito” responds to call on him to climb up and replace Samuel Ofosu Ampofo as National Chairman.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah, has served at the General Secretary spot since 2005.
It is argued that Mr Afriyie Ankrah, a former National Campaign Manager for ex-President John Mahama, would bring onboard experience, maturity, excellent human relations, political dynamism and thorough appreciation and grasp of the national political trend.
The son of an Ewe woman for Atiavi in the Keta District of Volta Region and Ashanti father from Ahenema Kokoben in theAtwima-Kwanwoma District of the Ashanti Region, Mr Afriyie Ankrah, is a good listener who is equally generous to all who come across him.
He has a good command over several languages, including Ga, Ewe and Twi.
A recent Ghanaweb’s online poll gave Mr Afriyie Ankrah 63percent of virtual votes casted by over 46,000 users of the most popular news portal in Ghana.
Mr.Afriyie Ankrah, only has to convert his online 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 Asiedu Nketiah; “The General”, a man who has earned his keep in the history contemporary politics in Ghana with his wit and gut.
Former Member of Parliament for Ketu South, Fiifi Fiafi Kwetey, current deputy general secretary, Dr Peter Boamah Otokunor and three times unlucky contender, Abdul Ishan Farakhan, as well as Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, current director of elections, have all expressed in no equivocal terms, their intention succeed General Asiedu Nketiah.
Out of a total votes of 46,000, a whooping 29,048 people, representing over 63percent of the respondents have opted for Afriyie Ankrah, as the perfect replacement to the combatant Asiedu Nketiah, 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 Otokunor, the incumbent deputy General Secretary pulled a surprise, taking the second position with 12,5063 votes, representing 27percent of the total poll which.
Both the Ex-Member of Parliament for Ketu South and Ishan Farakhan polled 3,578 and 226 representing 8percent 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 Otokunor ,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 (CEO), 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 on the ticket of 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 for 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.
Dr Peter Boamah Otokunor
The outgoing Deputy General Secretary of the NDC was formerly appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA) 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 limelight 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.
