The NDC USA, on Friday July 12th and Saturday July 13th 2013, held an extraordinary biennial hereafter quadrennial Congress at Clark University’s Tilton Hall, in Worcester, Massachusetts (U.S.A). Enthusiastic members, patrons, friends, supporters, sympathizers and allies of the NDC from 21 member States together with few others converged in this historic City of Worcester. Branches in attendance were; Washington D.C Metro, Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia, North Virginia, Dallas - Texas, Houston - Texas, Los Angeles- California, Tennessee, Minnesota, Ohio, Colorado, Florida, Georgia and Delaware. Dignitaries in attendance for this important congress were, the Mayor of Worcester Mr. Joseph M. Petty, Member of Parliament for Nkwanta South constituency in the Volta Region of Ghana, Hon. Gershon Gbediame and Her Excellency Mrs. Edith Hazel, Ghana’s Deputy Ambassador to the United States. The 2-day event kicked-off on Friday with the arrival and registration of guests. To welcome NDC USA delegates and members to this historic city in Massachusetts, the Mayor of Worcester, Mr. Joseph M. Petty opened the NDC USA Congress at 11 am on Saturday, with a touching highly emotional address, with kind words about Ghanaians and our late President. He stated that the Ghanaian community in Worcester forms nearly 15% of the city’s population, commended them for their hard work and recognized their entrepreneurial endeavors as owners of Real Estate businesses amongst others in the community. In his closing remarks, the Mayor stated that the City Council has instituted a date to mark the death and honor the life of Ghana’s late President, Prof. J.E.A. Mills.
Speaking at the event, the special guest, Hon. Gershon Gbediame, Member of Parliament for Nkwanta South constituency in the Volta Region of Ghana, encouraged NDC USA’s members who has the intentions of running for parliamentary seats in Ghana not to be discouraged by some of the impediments on their way as others might have experienced during their attempts at transitioning from the US to Ghana. He encouraged members of the NDC USA to continue to serve and make sacrifices for the party. He was also of the view that NDC USA had the potential of becoming an important resource for the party in Ghana on several different fronts.
On her part, the Guest Speaker of the event, Her Excellency Mrs. Edith Hazel, Ghana’s Deputy Ambassador to the United States expressed her satisfaction of members’ participation and attendance at the Congress. She called for the members to close their ranks in the interest of the organization and eschew any divisive tendencies. She stated that it was obvious to all, that President Mahama is serious about developing Ghana and solving the problems of all Ghanaians. Concluding, she called for the NDC USA to continue to work hard to engender support among the Ghanaian community in the USA for the President.
The outgoing NDC USA Chairman, Prof. Kwame Agyenim Boateng who chaired the event, demanded and encouraged the Congress to adopt changes to the NDC USA bylaws, which included changes to the tenure of executives from two years to four years and an addition of two positions to the executive committee of NDC USA among others.
In addition, the outgoing secretary of the NDC USA, Mr. Osborne K. Sam stated among other things that the growth of NDC USA from thirteen branches in 2011 when the outgoing executive committee came into office to twenty one branches which were all present during this Congress was one of the most impressive achievements of the current executive committee. He also listed the greatest challenge of the organization as difficulties with dues collection from member branches, and challenged the incoming executive committee to rise up to this challenge and also ensure that all Ghanaian communities in the USA were represented by member branches.
To climax the two day congress, new executives were elected to steer the affairs of the chapter for the next 4 years after the new byelaws were adopted by popular acclamation by all delegates and members present. The newly elected executives with an overwhelming ovation from the members were inducted in office by Hon. Gershon Gbediame and H.E Mrs. Edith Hazel .
The list of the newly elected executive are;
Chairman -Nii Ashiboi Benjamin Armah
Vice Chairman: Mr. Alhaji Abass Adamu
Vice Chairman: Mr. Ato Essel
Vice Chairman: Mr. Osborne K. Sam
Vice Chairman: Mrs. Angela Anim Yankah
Vice Chairman: Mr. Joseph Obeng Baafi
Secretary: Mr. Charles Kpodzo
Mr. Frederick Johnson: Deputy Secretary (Administration).
Deputy Secretary Mr. Justice Kwasi Tettey (Media):
Treasurer: Mr. Noble Alexander
Financial Secretary: Mr. Simon Ocloo
Organizer: Mr. Samuel Benson Agyapong
Deputy Organizer: Mr. Fred Obeng Marfo
Women’s Organizer: Mrs. Janet Wilson
Deputy Women’s Organizer: Hajia Salamatu Issaka
Youth Organizer: Mr. Richmond Nettey
Deputy Youth Organizer: Mr. Albin Akansake
Coordinator of international Chapters: Mr. Damte Ohenba
In his victory remarks, the newly elected chairman, Mr. Nii Ashiboi Benjamin Armah, challenged his new executive team to close ranks and work harder than before to promote the party’s agenda and spread across the fifty states within the first two years of his administration.
He noted that, the greatness of the National Democratic Congress can be seen in the enthusiasm that he has seen in members in this congress, he called upon all members, friends, and sympathizers of NDC to intensify their efforts towards the next election.
Charles Kpodzo
(Secretary) Signed.
