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Politics of Thursday, 31 October 2013

Source: The Catalyst

Henry Manly-Spain dares Ade Coker

Mr. Ade Coker, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), is in for a battle of his life in his quest to maintain his chairmanship of the ruling party in the Greater Accra Region, as Henry Manly-Spain, a businessman and staunch member of the party, has declared his intention to challenge him.

Making it known to The Catalyst Newspaper, Manly-Spain said his decision to contest for the position was motivated by a strong desire to contribute his quota to solving the numerous problems confronting the NDC in the Greater Accra region.

He believes many of the problems of the party in the region were the result of a lack of proactive leadership on the party of the current Chairman.

He accused Ade Coker of failing the foot soldiers of the party who worked tirelessly to bring the party to power, promising to put them at the centre of the party’s activities when given the nod to lead.

Manly-Spain further accused Ade Coker of not being a team-player and supportive of the party’s parliamentary aspirants during the electioneering campaign.

‘We couldn’t have won the election in Greater Accra if I and my comrade friends had not worked assiduously assisting some of our aspirants and mobilizing the grass root supporters towards the election,’ he stated.

‘For me, I will say that Ade Coker has not performed the task offered him. Everybody can attest to his poor performance. He has dampened the spirit of many NDC supporters who sacrificed for the party,’ he said.

Ade Coker has come under criticism by sections of the NDC in the Greater Accra region, who claim his leadership style is not promoting unity in the party.

They insist he had lost touch with the grassroot members, as well as bigwigs in the party, who supported him when he declared his intention to contest for the chair.

On his views about democracy in the party, Manly-Spain is advocating the expansion of the party’s Electoral College which will enable delegates to vote for dedicated persons without the temptation of delegates being coerced with money.

With Manly-Spain declaring his intention to contest, the stage is now set for a tough battle for the Greater Accra regional chair of the NDC as Stephen Akwetey, a former Constituency Chairman for Krowor in the Greater Accra Region, Mr. Andrew Okaikoi, former parliamentary aspirant for Okaikoi North Constituency, all hoping to win the regional top post.