NPP to elect new executives for Oti Region on May 18

All is set for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to go to the polls on Saturday, May 18, 2019 to elect regional officers to steer the affairs of the party in the newly created Oti Region.

One of the candidates for the Oti regional elections, is Janet Emefa Obro-Adibo Goka, who is the only female among the six vying for the Deputy Regional Secretary position, and from all indications, she is tipped to ‘whip’ the five men on Saturday, when the elections are conducted.

She has called on delegates to choose competence over personal loyalties, when the party in the region goes to the polls to elect regional executives on Saturday at Dambai, the Oti regional capital.

Madam Emefa, as she is affectionately called, is an Assistant College Secretary at the St. Francis College of Education, Hohoe in the Volta Region. She was very instrumental in campaigning for ‘Yes’ votes for the Oti referendum and was the ‘No’ agent for the day.

Speaking in an exclusive interview, madam Emefa, who precious contested the same position at the then Volta Regional elections in 2018, said “I am a professional administrator, an entrepreneur, a trade unionist and a political activist with a bias for liberal democracy. I have a vast experience in grass-root mobilization and a flair for adventure.”

Madam Emefa, who is far advanced in her plans to move to Dambai College of Education, say her vision for the region she noted, is guided by seven thematic areas, namely: Governance; Infrastructure; Education; Health; Agriculture; Tourism; Gender Equality.

“I defied gender stigma in order to pursue active participation in frontline politics; overcame the stigma of widowhood in order to pursue political conviction; mobilized support of the party in the constituency and the region; canvassed for votes for the party and the flag-bearer throughout the constituency; rallied support for the election petition in 2013; and helped sensitize supporters and others to accept the verdict of the 2012 election petition,” she indicated.

In her most recent political engagements, Madam Emefa who again contested NPP constituency Parliamentary primaries in 2015, worked tirelessly with the Parliamentary candidate as they embarked on home visits to listen to concern of grass-root people and Presidential candidates of the party, planned with constituency executives appropriate strategies for election 2016, sensitized electorates in the then HohoeNorth constituency on the need for change, solicited for resources for the party’s campaign in the constituency and the region as well as liaised with polling station executives to identify needs of youth in the communities.

The Deputy Regional Secretary contestant who has been a TESCON Patronessfrom 2003 to date for both St. Francis and St. Teresa College of Education, enlightened TESCON students on the party’s philosophy; provides moral support for TESCON members on the two campuses; provides logistics for TESCON activities on the campuses; protects TESCON members against political victimization on the campuses; and led TESCON on solidarity and outreach.

Madam Janet EmefaObro-Adibo Goka, who was awarded the Best Worker Award in 2005 at her place of work, is the member of CENSAG negotiating committee; Vice Chairperson Franco Welfare; Vice Chairperson, Administrative & Secretarial Class Welfare Association (ASTCAWA), Volta Region; Chairperson of Hohoe Municipal ASTCAWA; and Member of the Peer Review Mechanism Oversight Committee, Hohoe.

She is also the non-teaching staff representative of the St. Francis College of Education’s Council Supervision Committee’s Chairperson of the Hohoe Municipal Teachers Co-operative Credit Union; Secretary of the Credit Union Supervisory Committee; and Vice Chairperson of Teresco Joint Welfare.

She has therefore called on the delegates to vote for competent, loyal and hardworking persons instead of aspirants using money to influence them, stressing that the party would need dedicated leaders to help it win the 2020 national polls, as well as those who could restructure the party and communicate well with the masses.

“Although, I am the only woman among the five men contesting for the Deputy Regional Secretaryship position, I am very confident of winning since I am courageous, fearless and competent. Look for leaders such as Emefa who could lead the party to victory in the 2020 general elections. I am one of such leaders that can change the “World Bank” mantra, where we can win at least four seats and increase the presidential votes in the Oti region,” she admonished the delegates.

She opined that per her profile, she is not just an ordinary woman but a courageous woman who is dedicated, committed, competent and with a solid track record, and thereby admonished the delegates to vote for her because she is going to ensure that the NPP wins the 2020 polls.

Apart from the Women’s Organizer and her Deputy, madam Emefa is the only female contesting for the Regional election positions in the newly created Oti region.