Youth need mentorship in politics – Fmr. NDC chairman

Mr Ellis Elliot Aferi, Former Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Kpone-Katamanso Constituency, has advised young politicians to allow themselves to be mentored by experienced senior politicians.

According to him, "Young politicians must be patient and learn from their senior politicians to enable them to grow and become good statesmen".


Mr Aferi, who stepped down as the chairman and a candidate just before the commencement of the constituency elections on Saturday, said the youth must not rush to occupy top political positions, and that, being intelligent and exuberant was not enough to be a successful politician.


He urged the NDC to develop the youth from the grassroots and gradually guide them through the political ladder.


He said he stepped down from the contest to preserve his integrity as a senior politician.


The 68-year-old Presiding Member (PM) of the Kpone-Katamanso District Assembly (KKDA), said sometimes his conscience convicted him for holding two conflicting positions, as the Presiding Member and as constituency Chairman of the NDC.

According to him, he was aware some people doubted his objectivity when he performed his duties as a PM because of his other partisan position.


The KKDA PM gave the assurance that he would give off his best to ensure the development of the Kpone-Katamanso District.


He also indicated that he would firmly support the NDC to maintain its parliamentary seat as well as maintain the area as the party’s stronghold.


Mr Aferi called for unity among all the branches of the party in the constituency, noting that, a house divided within, was already a defeated house.


He condemned the recent factionalism developing among the youth in the constituency.

Mr Aferi regretted that due to the change in the composition of branches from that of 37 some years ago when the constituency was formed, to the current 112, the area was now polarized.


Mr Ade Coker, NDC Greater Accra Regional Chairman, commended Mr Aferi for his dedication to the party since the year 2000.


Mr Coker called on aspiring executive members to emulate the commitment and hard work of the former chairman to retain the NDC in power.


At the end of the elections, Alhaji Abdulai Adams, Mr Samuelson Tetteh Allenge, Mr Neham Charway and Mr Samuel T.K. Morton emerged as the chairman, vice chairman, secretary and deputy secretary respectively.


Other winners are Mr Haruna Mahama, organizer, Mr Felix Onyame, treasurer, Mr William K. Afawubo, propaganda secretary and Mr Benjamin Borketey Bortei, as the deputy propaganda secretary.