Ofosu Ampofo joins NDC chairmanship race

As the clock ticks for the national chairmanship race for the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), developments in the party are becoming interesting as tall list of party stalwarts eying the position is emerging.

As the list kept swelling, the latest to have declared his intention to join the race is Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, otherwise Known as ‘Bro Sammi Photo’, the former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development under the late President, John Evans Atta-Mills.

So far, the incumbent Chairman and Board Chairman of Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND), Dr Kwabena Adjei have launched his bid to seek reelection.

Mr Kofi Portuphy, the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) boss and Vice Chairman of the party, has launched his campaign to annex the national chairman position from his boss, Dr Kwabena Adjei, otherwise known as ‘Wayo, Wayo’

The former Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry under the Ex -President Jerry John Rawlings’ regime and former Ambassador to Malaysia, Dan Abodakpi, has also launched his bid and kick started his campaign.

Another late entrant in the race is Alhaji Hudu Yahaya, one of the Vice-chairmen and former Board Chairman of Bulk, Oil Storage and Transport (BOST).

Sources close to the Tema West residence of Mr Ampofo, has hinted The Herald that the former District Chief Executive (DCE) for Fanteakwa District Assembly (FDA) and later Member of Parliament (MP) for the area; is relishing the opportunity to serve the party as National Chairman after losing the Tema West parliamentary elections by a slim margin to the incumbent MP for the area, Irene Naa Torshie Addo in the 2012 elections that saw President John Dramani Mahama trounced the twice defeated Presidential candidate for the opposition New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, until his appointment as the Local Government and Rural Development by the Mills’ administration, was the National Organizer of the party when the party was in opposition in 2014.

The source told The Herald that the Mr Ampofo’s decision to contest the slot, stem from the wealth of experience and interaction with the grassroots base of the party as a national officer, MP and a former Minister.

The Herald has learnt that Mr Ampofo, has begun his submarine campaign according to the campaign strategists commissioned by him.

According to them, even though the decision to contest came at the eleventh hour, is it better late than never.

They contested that even though all the aspirants are qualified to hold the fort, the party going into the 2016 presidential elections, Mr Ampofo holds the key to beating the NPP for the third time irrespective of who gets elected as the party’s flagbearer come October 18, 2014.

As the national chairmanship race heats up, another interesting turf is the Chairmanship race for the Greater Accra Region.

About five party stalwarts are battling the incumbent Chairman, Joseph Ade-Coker, a businessman by profession, is reeling under pressure by the mass decision to contest him.

So far, Mr Steven Akwetey, a businessman and former Constituency Chairman for Krowor in the Greater Accra region and a member of the United Cadres Front (UCF), is eyeing the seat.

Others are; Nii Tackie Commey, former MP for Odododiodiodio Constituency, Mr Daniel Amartey Mensah, immediate past Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ledzokuku Krowor Municipal Assembly (LEKMA) and Andrews Okaikoi, the party’s Parliamentary candidate for Okaikoi North Constituency and husband of t former Minister of Information and currently Ghana’s Ambassador to Czech Republic, Zita Okaikoi.

When The Herald contacted Mr Ampofo to comment on the latest development in his political career he said, “there was nothing like that, though I am under pressure all over the country to declare, I am still consulting.”

But The Herald can report that sooner or later Mr Ampofo, will declare his intentions to contest the chairmanship slot.