Four presidential aspirants of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) yesterday filed their nomination forms to contest the upcoming primaries slated for January 26, 2019.
They were Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin; former Vice Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra, Prof Joshua Alabi; former President John Dramani Mahama and former Chief Executive Officer of National Health Insurance Authority, Sylvester Adinam Mensah.
Other aspirants, former Trade and Industry Minister, Dr Ekow Spio Garbrah; businessman, Alhaji Nurudeen Iddrisu; Stephen Atubiga and Goosie Tanoh are expected to file their nominations today, the last day of the two-day process.
Accompanied by jubilant supporters and campaign teams adorned in customised shirts, the aspirants were received by the leadership of the party including National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia who received the forms and GH₵30,000 filing fees and issued receipts.
The first to arrive was Mr Bagbin whose entourage included former information minister, Fritz Baffoe.
In an address after the process, he assured his supporters that he would rejuvenate the party through grassroots empowerment to end the “cycle of neglect that had plagued those who served the party and country”.
He said the party needed to retrace its roots and hold high its key values and principles that made it a beacon of hope and pledged to lead the NDC to victory in 2020 through civil, mature and inclusive campaign.
Prof Alabi was accompanied by his team including his wife, Prof Goski Alabi and two bishops and an Iman who preceded and ended the filing process with prayers.
He touted his leadership and academic credentials for which reason he said he had been groomed to transform the party and subsequently alleviate the plights of Ghanaians bestowed on them by the government.
He said a research by his team had showed that the party lost the 2016 elections because there was a disconnection between the government, the grassroots and other membership of the party even on campuses and pledged to reconnect them for victory.
With his campaign team including Prof Kwamina Ahwoi, a party stalwart, former President John Mahama promised to maintain the ethics of the party and return the party to power to continue its good works.
Mr. Mensah, on his part, asked the play hierarchy to keep their promise of creating a level playfield for all aspirants and reaffirmed his commitment to lead the party on the path of victory if elected as flagbearer.
National Chairman of the party, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, in his remarks, cautioned all aspirants and their campaign team against insults and mudslinging in their campaigns, especially on social media as the party would bring culprits to book.
Instead, he charged party members to synergise, harness their capabilities and channel their energies to fighting the common enemy and reminded them they could only win through unity.
By Jonathan Donkor
