From Vigilante Leader to Ex-MPs: Meet the 4 men hoping to fill the boots of Asiedu Nketiah

For the first time in about 21 years, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will head into a national executive election without Johnson Asiedu Nketiah seeking a position on its national executive committee, marking the end of a remarkable run in the party's top leadership. Since 2005, Asiedu Nketiah, popularly known as General Mosquito, has occupied key positions in the party, serving as its General Secretary for 17 years before being elected National Chairman in December 2022. His decision not to seek another term as National Chairman means the NDC will, for the first time since 2005, have to elect its national executives without him as one of the candidates, bringing an end to more than two decades of his presence in the party's national leadership. As the party prepares for its December 19, 2026, national executive elections, four men have filed nominations to contest for the National Chairman position, setting the stage for a contest to succeed one of the NDC's most influential political figures. GhanaWeb takes a look at the four men hoping to fill the boots of Asiedu Nketiah. 1. Sofo Azorka Awudu Sofo Azorka Awudu, popularly known as Chief Sofo Azorka, is the incumbent National Vice Chairman of the NDC and one of the party's experienced grassroots political figures. He previously served as the Northern Regional Chairman of the party, a position he held after winning the regional executive election in November 2014. His influence within the party's national leadership became more pronounced in December 2018, when he was elected a National Vice Chairman. He retained the position at the party's December 2022 National Delegates Congress, polling 2,707 votes to emerge with the highest number of votes among the eight candidates who contested the three vice-chairmanship positions. His political career has largely been associated with party organisation and grassroots mobilisation, particularly in the Northern Region. Chief Sofo Azorka is the founder and leader of the Azorka Boys, a group linked to the NDC that has been described in public discourse and media reports as a political vigilante group. 2. Nii Armah Ashietey Nii Armah Ashietey is a lawyer and former Member of Parliament for the Korle Klottey Constituency in the Greater Accra Region. He represented the constituency in Parliament from 2009 to 2017 after winning the seat on the ticket of the NDC in the 2008 general elections. Before entering Parliament, Ashietey served as Chief Executive of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly between 1993 and 2001. He subsequently became the Greater Accra Regional Minister in 2009 under the late President John Evans Atta Mills, a position he held until 2013. Following the NDC's victory in the 2012 general elections, he was appointed Minister for Employment and Labour Relations under President John Dramani Mahama. He held the ministerial position until 2017, when the NDC left office after the party's defeat in the 2016 elections. Ako Gunn to become NDC National Communications Officer as Sammy Gyamfi bows out 3. Dr Akwasi Oppong-Fosu Dr Akwasi Oppong-Fosu is a founding member of the NDC whose political and public service career spans several decades. He previously served as the Member of Parliament for Amenfi East in the Western Region from 2013 to 2017, after years of involvement in public administration and local governance. His experience in government includes serving as Minister for Local Government and Rural Development and Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation under the Mahama administration. He also served as a Minister of State at the Presidency and Head of the Local Government Service, giving him experience in both political leadership and public sector administration. Oppong-Fosu has built his political identity around decentralisation, institutional development and strengthening local governance. His experience at the district and national levels has featured prominently in his argument for a more inclusive and effective NDC leadership. 4. Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye is a former Member of Parliament for Odododiodio and a sports journalist who transitioned into active politics after years in the media industry. He represented the constituency in Parliament from 2013 to January 2025, having won the seat in the 2012 general elections and retained it in the subsequent two elections. Before entering Parliament, Vanderpuye worked with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) from 1990 to 2004, where he rose to become Deputy Head of Sports. He later worked with Network Broadcasting Limited as Head of Sports between 2005 and 2008. His political career includes serving as a special aide and Director of Operations at the Presidency under the late President John Evans Atta Mills. He subsequently served as Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, and Minister for Youth and Sports under the Mahama administration. As Sports Minister, he was responsible for the sector between 2015 and 2017. After leaving Parliament in January 2025, Vanderpuye was appointed National Coordinator of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP). However, he resigned from the position in June 2026, explaining that the decision was to enable him to pursue a national executive position within the NDC. BAI Who Is Responsible for Stray-Bullet Injuries and Deaths? SayItLoud: Newly constructed road turns Nsakina into a nightmare whenever it rains Source: www.ghanaweb.com
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