‘It will take miracle for me not to Win’- Abodakpi

The former Ghana Ambassador to Malaysia and a contender for the national chairmanship position of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Dan Abodakpi has stated that, he is optimistic of annexing the chair from incumbent Dr. Kwabena Adjei at the party’s upcoming delegate congress.

The congress scheduled for October 24, 2014 also has the current first vice national chairman and national coordinator of NADMO, Mr. Kofi Portuphy vying for the chairmanship slot.

But Mr. Abodakpi, who took his campaign to the Volta region over the weekend, told journalists in Ho that, his chances in the contest are ‘extremely’ bright, and “it will take miracle for me not to win”.

According to him, his message of reconnecting the party to its grassroots through a transformational leadership is permeating the hearts of the party’s delegates, who he believes will give him the nod on the day of congress.

The NDC is expected to go to congress on October 24, 2014 to elect new national executives and persons have declared their intention to contest various

Mr. Abodakpi who was also a one time Member of Parliament for the Keta and a former Minister for Trade and Industry in the NDC Rawlings government, said his transformational leadership agenda will ensure the revival of the party structures especially at the branch level, to make it vibrant and attractive for every member feel part of. This, he said would engender members to contribute towards the running of the NDC, instead of only relying on political appointees to finance the party.

 He also disclosed as part of his agenda to draw a clear succession plan for executive positions in the party, including a review of the NDC’s constitution to cap the tenure of the chairman to two terms; so as to offer opportunity to other party loyalists with leadership ambitions to attain such positions.  

Sharing his thought on the controversial  clause in the NDC Election Guideline  which barred members who have never held any party executive position at constituency level from contesting a regional executive slot, Mr. Abodakpi said ‘it is in the right direction… people must be identified with a constituency.. Somebody cannot just come from nowhere to become a regional executive without starting from somewhere, which is the grassroot’. 

He believes his work in the NDC at region and across the country is known to the party ranks and files, some of whom have the opportunity to choose the renewal of the party at the coming congress.