Who the cup fit let them wear it

The regional chairman of a political party represents the political head in the region and must be someone who can unite and foster development within the region and its constituencies. In view of the above assertion, the general optimism is that Stephen Akwetey has the mandate to strategize ideas that will rebuild the party to white land where development is his key priority.

My brothers and sisters, distinguished yet to be elected constituency executives, elected branch executives, looking at the past leadership records and achievement of Mr. Stephen Akwetey if given the nod as the Greater Accra regional Chairman of our party our developmental challenges will be solved within the shortest possible time. Summarizing his political background Steven Akwetey served as assistant secretary (Nungua Branch) of the June 4 movement in 1979. In 1980 to 1982 he became the the secretary. In 1982 to 1983 he he was elevated to the substantive Secretary of the (Nungua Area PDC. In fact, in 1989 to 1992 he was a member of the Greater Accra regional Tender Board and a member of the Greater Accra Regional Training Team of the Non-formal education. (Ministry of education) from 1989 to 1992.

He became the Head of Education/Culture of the National Youth Organizing Commission of the Greater Accra Region and the Co-ordinator of the Democratic Youth League of Ghana (Nungua Branch) of the Greater Accra Region in 1984 to 1988.

in 1984 to 1988 he was the Head of Information, Culture & Education of the Accra District. Steven Akwetey became the Head of Monitoring & Co-ordination of the Greater Accra Regional CDRS between 1988 to1992.

The NDC party after losing the 2001 elections to the NPP, Steven Akwetey assumed the Krowor Constituency chairmanship until 2004.

I want to highlight on some significant observations about Stephen Akwetey, he fully shared and has written a memo in support of the founder Ex- president JJ Rawlings recent call; the first of this observation has to do with expanding the electoral college of our great party. I see this call to have come at the right time and accordingly expect the party executives to take pragmatic steps to ensuring that the party’s Electoral College is expanded and made operational for use during the upcoming election when new crop of executives and flagbearer for 2016 elections are to be elected. In expanding the Electoral College, the committee to oversee the fruition of all this important occasion should consider the scope and qualification of those entitled to vote. In order to maintain a level playing field, he also suggested that "NDC should do even better than NPP did and allow all elected party officials to vote, from ward level to branch and then to constituency level. At the same time, the good intention to introduce biometric methods should never lead to present executives overstaying in office in order to supervise this. Otherwise, any President could always introduce a new government proposal and ask to stay longer in office in order to implement it. NDC executives should abide by the current party Constitution and give way to new or re-elected executives who can supervise any new ideas in the party".

In this assertion Mr. Akwetey highly respect the views of the party Founder and call on the National Executive of the party to take the necessary steps to address this issue. As stated by Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince and I quote, “The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.” Your Excellency, the future of the NDC as far as electoral victory is concerned depends largely on the men and women steering the affairs of the state and connecting with the grassroots and how proactive and innovative they are.

The aspiring Greater Accra regional chairman is vibrant, industrious, versatile, respectful, discipline and development oriented person who can strategize ideas for the forward match of the region. Stephen Akwetey believes that ‘’every constituency in the Greater Accra Region should be charged to identify one major economic project they would want to implement. It could be but not limited to improving the productivity of those in the service industries of fishing, farming, poultry etc.

The region shall endeavour to help outline these empowerment programs. The aim will be for the lower structures to generate their own internal revenues thus becoming self-sufficient. The Party’s regional executives shall definitely help in these regards, so that; the NDC is not seen as only active during campaign periods. It is his view that commitment that the offices are functional at all times no matter who is in the leadership of party or government.’’

Written by Mr. Justice Ali.