Asiedu Nketia ‘mad’ over 17 aspirants for party’s youth organiser position

Johnson Asiedu Nketia The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Johnson Asiedu Nketia has expressed disgust over the sheer number of 17 aspirants contesting the party’s youth organiser position in the upcoming National Delegates Congress to be held in January 2010. Himself a contestant for re-election as the party’s scribe, Mr Nketia did not understand why 17 of the party’s youth should vie for the position of the party’s youth organiser position. “There are about 17 people who are going to contest for National Youth Organiser, Deputy National Youth Organiser and so on. Where did all of them come from? When we were in opposition where were they?” he quizzed. He blamed the scramble for power on the lack of credible data for the party and called for an electronic-based membership registration mechanism. Speaking with the party’s constituency and regional executives at Wa, Mr Nketia also dismissed assertions that he was undermining the 31st December Women’s Movement following his recent suggestion for a vibrant women’s wing of the party. Claiming to have been misquoted, the general secretary said: “Some are saying that general mosquito wants to collapse 31st, some are saying general mosquito wants to marginalize 31st. But I bet you what I am doing is in the interest of 31st itself and also in the interest of the women’s wing,” he explained. Mr Nketia said he is unfazed with the criticism and believes his conviction and position will be vindicated in the long term. Ahead of the 2008 national elections, Mr Nketia similarly lambasted the then ruling New Patriotic Party for putting forward 17 aspirants for the party’s presidential candidate. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana