NDC Ashanti Vetting: Aspirants warn supporters against insults

The race for executive positions in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ashanti Region is gathering momentum, with 65 aspirants undergoing vetting and leading contenders urging their supporters to avoid insults and personal attacks as the party prepares for its regional elections.

The vetting exercise, scheduled for Friday, October 16, and Saturday, October 17, 2026, forms part of the party’s internal reorganisation ahead of the regional elections in November.

Among those who have successfully completed the vetting are incumbent Ashanti Regional Chairman Augustus Andrews Nana Kwasi and Regional Organiser Isham Alhassan Yaw Bonsu, who is challenging him for the chairmanship position.

Speaking to the media at the party’s regional office in Kumasi after the exercise, the two contenders called for restraint among their supporters, stressing the need to preserve unity despite the competition for leadership positions.

Their appeal comes as aspirants intensify efforts to secure the support of delegates ahead of the elections, with the outcome expected to shape the party’s regional leadership and grassroots mobilisation in the run-up to the 2028 general elections.

Nana Kwasi is seeking re-election after previously pledging to build on his leadership record and strengthen the NDC’s electoral fortunes in the Ashanti Region. He has cited the party’s growth in parliamentary representation in the region, from three seats to seven, as part of his record in office.

Bonsu, who has served the party at various levels since 1992, is seeking to replace the incumbent. He has framed his campaign around rebuilding the party’s grassroots structures, empowering members and restoring confidence among supporters.

The chairmanship contest is among the key races expected to attract attention as the NDC elects new regional executives.

Other aspirants are also seeking to retain or secure positions within the regional leadership. Emmanuel Fynn Reagan, who serves as Ashanti Regional Director of the National Service Authority, is contesting the Regional Organiser position, while Osei Richmond, a former Deputy Communications Officer in the Manso Nkwanta Constituency, is also seeking the same post.

Reagan has argued that stronger leadership and effective grassroots organisation are necessary to improve the NDC’s electoral performance in the Ashanti Region, traditionally considered a stronghold of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Richmond, meanwhile, has pledged to help increase the NDC’s parliamentary representation in the region from seven seats to at least 10 if elected.

The contest for the Regional Women’s Organiser position is also drawing attention. Gloria Huze, the incumbent who has reportedly held the position since 1996, is among the party figures associated with the regional elections, alongside Phyllis Manu. However, the precise status of each contender in the race requires confirmation from the party’s regional secretariat.

The regional elections form part of the NDC’s nationwide internal electoral process for the 2026–2030 leadership cycle.

According to the party’s published timetable, the regional vetting exercise is scheduled for October 16 and 17, followed by an appeals process on October 19 and 20. The Regional Youth and Women Conference is scheduled for November 13, while the regional executive elections are expected to take place on November 14 and 15, 2026.

The process is intended to produce regional executives who will oversee party organisation, coordinate grassroots activities and help position the NDC for future electoral contests.

With the competition for key positions intensifying, the call by the chairmanship contenders for peaceful campaigning underscores the importance of preventing internal rivalry from weakening party cohesion.

The challenge for the aspirants will be to convince delegates of their leadership credentials while ensuring that the contest does not degenerate into personal attacks that could leave divisions within the party after the elections.

EA