Central Region must become NDC stronghold, Prof. Asiedu charges aspirants

In a call for party cohesion ahead of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) internal elections, Central Regional Chairman, Professor Nana Richard Asiedu, has urged aspirants to avoid mudslinging and focus on their vision for strengthening the party.

Addressing party faithful ahead of the party's internal vacancy-filling exercise, Prof. Asiedu highlighted what he described as his administration's electoral achievements in transforming the Central Region from a volatile swing region into a strong electoral base for the governing NDC.

He urged party members to protect the gains made under his leadership and work towards consolidating the party's electoral fortunes in the region.

"I came with my team to meet 13 parliamentary seats, of which I increased it to 18 plus one, including coming 8-plus seats," Prof. Asiedu declared, accounting for his stewardship.

He added that his administration had also increased the number of presidential constituencies won by the party from four to 21.

"I think with this, if we are able to consolidate on our gains, we can go higher and higher and remove the Central Region from the strings of being a swing region," he said.

Consolidating the party's electoral gains

Reflecting on the party's condition when his administration assumed office, the Regional Chairman said rebuilding its structures required substantial personal sacrifice, financial commitment and sustained grassroots engagement.

"I wish to state that when we came, we met a very weak party—lack of finance, things were very difficult," Prof. Asiedu recalled.

"But you have to put in a lot of resources, especially for myself, to make sure that the party stands and stands firm. Now, the party has become very attractive because of my relationship with the people in the region," he added.

He maintained that making the Central Region a permanent electoral stronghold for the NDC remained one of his major priorities.

"With the kind of help and support that has been given to Central Region in terms of leadership, there should be no way Central could be described as a swing region.

"It is one of my major aims to make sure that Central Region wins more seats in the area of presidential and both parliamentary, so that the region becomes a stronghold, but no more a swing region," he stated.

Prof. Asiedu cautions aspirants against mudslinging

As the NDC prepares to hold elections to fill vacant positions within its party structures, Prof. Asiedu has cautioned aspirants at all levels against attacking their opponents.

He urged candidates to focus their campaigns on their capabilities, ideas and contributions to the party rather than engaging in personal attacks that could undermine post-election reconciliation.

"The advice I would give to our opponents within—that is the NDC aspirants—is that when you go to the grounds, you have to preach what you can do and what you can help the party to achieve, but not to denigrate and destroy the image of others," he advised.

He warned that personal attacks during the internal contests could make it difficult for candidates to reconcile after the elections.

Reminding party executives and aspirants that their internal contests should not undermine the NDC's broader political objectives, he identified the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) as the party's main political opponent.

"Our common enemy or major opponent is the NPP," Prof. Asiedu stated.

"We are NDCs, and we are doing what is described as an internal party vacancy filling. So you can't destroy your own colleague or your friend and later go back to the person to move forward," he added.

The Regional Chairman appealed to party members across all levels to exercise restraint in their public statements to avoid creating divisions that could affect the NDC's electoral prospects.

"If it happens so, it will affect the unity that we are searching for. It will affect us moving forward; it will delay us in the progress for winning the elections.

"So I beg everybody along the chain—from the branch, from the constituency, the region, national, and the presidential primaries period—everybody should be circumspect in whatever he or she says so that it will not come back to haunt us in the elections. Thank you," he said.