The Virginia Branch of the NDC-USA has held an election to choose vibrant and visionary executive officers to run the affairs of the chapter for the next two years. In attendance were observers from the NDC-USA, representatives from various Ghanaian groups in the Commonwealth of Virginia, members and executives of the Washington DC Metro branch of the NDC-USA, and sympathizers of the NDC in the Commonwealth and its surrounding States. The election which was held at the Knight of Columbus Center in Alexandria, Virginia on March 21st, 2010, a beautiful, sunny day was professionally supervised by a six-member electoral committee chaired by Mr. William Ahiable.
The event was graced by the attendance of the Deputy Ghanaian ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Mrs. Edith Hazel and her entourage. The deputy ambassador and her delegation were warmly received by the gathering with applause and shouts of on ‘Ehe Ejo Bodoor Emefa! Mia mia!’ In her remarks, the deputy ambassador thanked the out-going executives for their exemplary leadership and reminded the newly-elected executives of the challenges that lay ahead of them. She cautioned members against complacency and called for coordination of activities between the two vibrant branches in the DC Metropolitan region. The Deputy Ambassador urged the rank and file members to win more “souls” for the party. As she puts it “Politics is all about numbers”. She also said that the successful election is a victory for all and that there were no winners and losers in the end. Her Excellency called on members to support their elected officers and work hard to ensure victory for the party in the coming 2012 general election in Ghana.
Mr. Daniel Dotse was elected for the position of Chairman by a huge margin of the votes cast. Mr. Abdul-Aziz Balla was elected as Vice-Chairman, Mr. Alexander Obeng, as Secretary, and Mr. Godwin Banson, Deputy Secretary. The office of Women organizer went to Gladys Yawa Kpo with Ms. Lutfah Issah as Deputy. The rest are Ms. Kate Rushing as Treasurer/Financial Secretary, Gideon Gawu, Propaganda Secretary, Ms. Melba Folly as Organizing Secretary, Mr. Abdul Samad Salih, Deputy Organizer and Mr. Abdul Kadir Mahama, Youth Organizer. Hussein Collison-Cofie was re-elected as the Coordinating Secretary.
In his brief acceptance remark, the Chairman, Mr. Daniel Dotse thanked the out- going executives of NDC-Virginia for successfully steering the affairs of the branch. He commended the outgoing executives for increasing the number of members substantially. He pledged that he and fellow executives will never relent in their efforts in taking the branch to greater heights. He also thanked the members for the trust imposed in him and his team, and called for moral and financial support from all and sundry. The new Chairman, Mr. Daniel Dotse, reiterated the fact that there is ample evidence that Ghanaian voters are eager to retain the NDC in power come Dec 2012, he however cautioned, that victory will not come without hard work. “NPP is out there with their negative propaganda and we need to work hard to get the right and accurate information to the Ghanaian people in a timely fashion”, he cautioned. He indicated that his team will work assiduously with the necessary organs of the party to achieve this goal.
The Chairman, in consultation with the newly inaugurated executives, appointed the following members to serve as Patrons of NDC-Virginia; - Mr. William Ahiable, Mr. Evans Ahorsey (Fmr NDC Member of parliament), Ms Hafsata Issah, Mr. Naa Korli, Mr. Francis Joojo Djamson (Fmr Chairman, NDCVA), Mr. Winfred Anumah, Mr. Iddrisu Collison-Cofie (Fmr Vice Chairman, NDCVA) and Mr. Alex Acolatse
Source: The Public Relations Department), NDC-Virginia, Branch of NDC USA Chapter (