NDC UK & Ireland chapter elects new executives

The NDC UK and Ireland Chapter went to Congress on Saturday 28 September to elect new Chapter Executives to steer the affairs of the Chapter for the next four years.

The event which took place at the Tottenham Green Leisure Centre, Philip Lane North London N15 4JA was attended by a large section of the NDC UK & Ireland Branch party members, supporters and party faithfuls from all walks of life in the UK.

Addressing the Congress, Hon. Kofi Attor, NDC Director of International Relations congratulated the outgoing NDC UK & Ireland Chapter Executives for establishing new Branches in Luton, Birmingham and Liverpool which has resulted in the expansion of the Chapter membership base. Hon Attor called on the Chapter to continue the expansion programmes by organising symposiums and soirees to motivate members. He called on members to do all they could to follow the vision of the NDC party, unite and support the Party leadership and the Government of His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama.

The outgoing Chairman, Mr Horace Ankrah recounted the successes achieved by the NDC UK & Ireland Chapter under his tenure of office. He told Congress that under his administration, the Chapter increased its membership by four fold and created more Branches than his predecessors. The Chapter, he said had provided the necessary resources needed for effective communication within the party. Mr Ankrah said, despite the challenges faced by the Chapter over the last four years he believed the party in the UK was of good standing than he inherited.

A high profile NDC National Party Executives who were in the UK to attend the annual Labour Party Conference supervised the elections of the Chapter Executives. The delegation included the Party General secretary, Hon. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Hon. Kofi Attor, Director of International Relations, Mr Yaw Boateng-Gyan, National Party Organiser and Hon. Ofosu Akuamoah Boateng, Director of Administration at the NDC Party Headquarters.

Also present to grace the occasion were Her Excellency, Mrs Elizabeth Nicole, the Deputy High Commissioner at the Ghana Mission in the United Kingdom. Hon. Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, the Volta Regional Minister. Hon. Kwame Agbodza, MP for Adaklu Constituency. Hon. Agbodza was the immediate past Vice Chairman of the NDC UK & Ireland Chapter.

Hon. Ofosu Akuamoah Boateng, was the presiding and returning officer for the day; He supervised and conducted the elections in a very free, fair and transparent manner to the admiration of Congress.

The following persons were duly elected to the Chapter Executive positions:

Mr Kofi Kwakye - Chairman

Mr Alex Seshie-Vanderpuije - Vice Chairman

Mr Sam Quaye - Secretary

Mr Alhassan Mbalba - Assistant Secretary

Mr Michael Frempong - Public Relations Officer

Mr Alex Bediako - Organiser

Mr Kwesi Turkson - Deputy Organiser

Mr Wisdom Adoli - Youth Organiser

Mr Frank Fiaka - Deputy Youth Organiser

Mr Rodger Appiah - Treasurer

Nana Debra - Welfare Officer

Ms Louisa Nelson - Women's Organiser

Hajia Salamatu Kuntey - Deputy Women's Organiser

The newly elected NDC UK & Ireland Chapter Executives were sworn into office by the Party General Secretary, Hon. Johnson Asiedu Nketia.

Mr Kofi Kwakye, in his acceptance speech pledged to Congress that he would uphold the NDC Constitution and the Chapter Standing Orders, which regulate the activities of the party in the UK. Mr Kwakye pledged his support to the NDC Party leadership and to His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama's administration. He said he would do all within his capabilities to ensure that the current NDC administration is re elected in 2016.He told Congress he would endeavour to unite the Chapter membership and to eliminate factionalism. He promised to embark on membership drive to increase Chapter membership in the UK by establishing new Branches across the country.

The NDC Party General Secretary, Mr John Asiedu Nketia, who received a rousing welcome on his arrival into the Congress Hall; apparently in appreciation of his outstanding performance as the NDC star witness during the just ended the NPP futile petition hearing in Ghana, called on Party members in the Diaspora to work hard to uphold the hard won image of the NDC party in the UK. He reminded the newly elected Chapter Executives of their responsibilities towards the general membership and the Party as a whole. He called the Executives not to hesitate to contact Party Headquarters for updated information on Party and national issues in order to inform the general membership and the Ghanaian community in the UK.

Congress ended with music and with light refreshments.

Michael Frempong

Public Relations Officer

NDC UK & Ireland Chapter

30 September 2013