NDC Eastern Regional Elections: 49 aspirants file nominations as committee receives two petitions

Thirty aspirants have filed nomination forms at the Upper West Regional office of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to compete for various executive positions in the party's internal election. The candidates, including constituency executives and grassroots members, are seeking regional leadership roles. Their primary focus areas include empowering grassroots members, reorganizing the party, and preserving the party's parliamentary seats in the region.

A total of 60 aspirants submitted their nomination forms, all of whom will undergo a vetting process on Friday before the regional delegates conference slated for the following month. Among those vying for the regional chairmanship is Sombawiere Samba, also known as Sankara, who is contesting against incumbent chairman Abdul Nasir Saani and businessman Alhassan Aadam Randy.

Sankara, who started his political journey as a polling agent and branch chairman, highlighted his eight years of experience as Deputy Regional Treasurer and his current role as constituency chairman. He pledged to continue development initiatives in Nadowli-Kaleo, such as providing 1,400 chairs to 114 polling stations and establishing a permanent constituency office project.

Sankara proposed to extend such infrastructure development to all constituencies, ensuring they have furnished offices and a permanent regional headquarters for the party. He argued that credit for the party's parliamentary successes in the region should be shared among constituents, MPs, and branch executives, rather than solely attributed to regional executives.

Daffiama-Bussie-Issa Constituency Chairman Boniface Tienaah, who also filed his nomination, stated that his main objective as the contender for the regional vice-chairmanship would be to support the winner of the regional chairmanship decision. He emphasized the importance of maintaining responsiveness to branch executives to avoid neglecting grassroots members post-elections.

The race for the Deputy Regional Secretary position includes Dr Angsongna Banangmwine Claudius, also known as Dr ABC, and Cornelius Naasoa Wuobar, a former member of the Regional Elections and IT Directorate. Dr Claudius emphasized his administrative background as two-time president of GRASAG at the University of Ghana and the University for Development Studies, and pledged to advocate for 44 tertiary scholarships across the region's 11 constituencies.

He also aimed to modernize party secretariats through improved IT infrastructure, internet access, and dedicated office managers, while warning against sidelining branch executives during post-election processes.