The contest for the Ashanti Regional Chairmanship of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has narrowed to a two-horse race between incumbent chairman Augustus Andrews, popularly known as Nana Kwasi Andrews, and the Ashanti Regional Political Coordinator and current Organiser, Yaw Isham Alhassan, following the release of the final list of aspirants for the party’s regional executive elections.
The Ashanti Regional Elections/IT Directorate, in a flyer titled “Display of Aspirants for the Regional Executives Election,” listed Mr. Andrews as number one on the ballot and Mr. Alhassan as number two for the chairmanship position.
The display, issued under the Ashanti Regional Secretariat, formally presents the two contenders whose campaigns are expected to centre on leadership, party organisation, grassroots mobilisation and the future electoral fortunes of the NDC in the Ashanti Region.
The contest pits an incumbent with years of experience at the helm of the party’s regional administration against a challenger who has served within the same regional executive structure as organiser.
The outcome is expected to shape the leadership direction of the NDC in a region widely regarded as a major stronghold of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
ANDREWS SEEKS TO RETAIN SEAT.
Mr. Augustus Andrews Nana Kwasi, popularly known as Chairman Nana Kwasi, has been at the forefront of the NDC’s regional leadership since 2018, when he defeated former Ashanti Regional Deputy Minister Joseph Yamin to become chairman.
The 2018 contest was closely fought, with Mr. Andrews winning by a margin of 88 votes, underscoring the competitive nature of internal elections within the party.
He subsequently secured another mandate in 2022, polling 637 votes to defeat lawyer Evans Amankwa, who obtained 572 votes, and former Regional Chairman Yaw Owusu Obimpeh, who garnered 137 votes.
His re-election provided him with another opportunity to lead the party’s regional organisation and coordinate its activities across the region’s constituencies.
As the incumbent, Chairman Nana kwasi Andrews is expected to draw attention to his experience, organisational record and familiarity with the challenges confronting the party in the Ashanti Region.
The NDC has traditionally faced a difficult electoral environment in the region, where the NPP has enjoyed considerable support in presidential elections.
Against this background, regional leadership has remained an important component of the party’s efforts to improve its electoral performance, strengthen constituency structures and mobilise voters.
Ahead of the 2024 general elections, Mr. Andrews called on party supporters to conduct decent campaigns and avoid insults, emphasising the importance of maintaining discipline in political engagement.
His appeal highlighted the need for the party to combine internal competition with a united approach to its broader electoral objectives.
ISHAM ALHASSAN YAW BONSU CHALLENGES INCUMBENT.
Mr. Isham Alhassan Yaw Bonsu , also known as Yaw Isham Alhassan, enters the race with experience from within the regional executive, having served as the Ashanti Regional Organiser.
He retained the organiser position during the previous regional executive elections after defeating other contenders, including a former District Chief Executive for Atwima Nwabiagya, Nana Asare Bediako (Obama).
His decision to contest the chairmanship represents a move from his existing organisational role to the region’s top party position.
Mr. Isham Alhassan Yaw Bonsu has publicly declared his ambition to lead the regional branch of the NDC, setting the stage for a contest between two figures familiar with the party’s internal operations.
His experience as regional organiser places him within the party’s mobilisation structure, where engagement with constituency executives, polling station officers and grassroots members forms an important part of organisational work.
The chairmanship contest will therefore offer delegates an opportunity to assess the two aspirants’ respective approaches to party leadership, grassroots mobilisation and the challenges of improving the NDC’s performance in the Ashanti Region.
With only two names appearing on the ballot for the chairmanship, attention is expected to focus on their individual records, campaign messages and ability to secure the confidence of delegates.
BALLOT ORDER CONFIRMED.
The official display by the Ashanti Regional Elections/IT Directorate places Mr. Andrews Nana kwasi at number one and Mr. Isham Alhassan Yaw Bonsu at number two on the ballot for the regional chairmanship.
The numbering establishes the order in which the two aspirants will appear on the ballot paper.
The published flyer features portraits of both contenders against the NDC’s red, green and white party colours.
Although the ballot order has been established, the display alone does not determine the outcome of the election, which will depend on the votes cast by accredited delegates at the regional conference.
The release of the list marks an important stage in preparations for the regional executive elections, allowing party members and delegates to identify the candidates contesting the various positions.
ASHANTI’S ELECTORAL CHALLENGE
The chairmanship contest comes against the backdrop of the NDC’s longstanding efforts to improve its electoral performance in the Ashanti Region.
Although the region has remained a stronghold of the NPP in presidential elections, the NDC has made efforts to expand its support base and improve its share of the vote.
Available figures cited in previous election reporting indicate that the NDC increased its share of the Ashanti presidential vote from approximately 23 per cent in 2016 to 26.08 per cent in 2020.
The figures underscore the challenge facing the party as it seeks to build on its support base in the region.
For the incoming regional chairman, the task will include strengthening the party’s presence at the constituency and polling station levels, improving communication with members and developing strategies to attract additional voter support.
The next regional administration will also be expected to maintain effective working relationships with constituency executives and other party structures to ensure that national and regional political objectives are translated into coordinated grassroots activities.
The chairmanship election is consequently expected to attract attention from party members who see regional organisation as an important factor in the NDC’s future political fortunes.
UNITY AFTER THE ELECTION
Beyond the contest for the chairmanship, the ability of the party to maintain unity after the election will remain an important consideration.
Internal elections can generate strong competition among aspirants and their supporters, making peaceful campaigning and respect for the electoral process essential to preserving party cohesion.
The previous Ashanti regional conference reportedly witnessed disturbances that resulted in three arrests, with incidents involving pepper spray and a physical confrontation.
Such incidents have highlighted the importance of effective security arrangements, discipline among supporters and adherence to electoral rules during internal party contests.
Party leaders will therefore be keen to ensure that the forthcoming process is conducted peacefully and that the outcome does not create divisions that could affect the party’s organisational activities.
The two aspirants and their respective campaign teams will face the challenge of maintaining constructive engagement throughout the contest while encouraging their supporters to respect the final decision of the delegates.
A peaceful election and a smooth transition or continuation of leadership would provide an opportunity for the party to redirect its attention towards constituency organisation, grassroots mobilisation and preparations for future electoral contests.
DELEGATES TO DECIDE
With the final list showing only Augustus Andrews and Yaw Isham Alhassan for the regional chairmanship, the decision now rests with the accredited delegates who will participate in the election.
The contest brings together an incumbent seeking to retain his position after leading the regional party since 2018 and a regional executive member seeking to assume responsibility for the chairmanship.
The regional conference is expected to provide the platform for delegates to determine which candidate will lead the party’s regional administration into its next phase.
The official display did not indicate the election date, venue or additional details of the voting arrangements. Those details will therefore depend on further communication from the appropriate party authorities.
As the contest gathers momentum, the focus will remain on the candidates’ organisational records, their proposals for strengthening the party and their capacity to work with constituency executives and grassroots members across the Ashanti Region.
Ultimately, the regional chairmanship election will determine who takes responsibility for coordinating the NDC’s activities in one of Ghana’s most politically competitive regions.
