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NDC NATIONAL CHAIRMANSHIP 2026: FOUR ASPIRANTS, FOUR POLITICAL JOURNEYS, ONE PARTY TO LEAD The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is approaching another important moment in its political history. With the decision of its incumbent National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, not to seek re-election, the contest to lead the party’s national administrative and political machinery has opened up to a new generation of leadership possibilities. Four prominent party members have successfully submitted their nomination forms to contest the position of National Chairman. They are Sofo Awudu Azorka, Dr Akwasi Oppong-Fosu, Nii Armah Ashitey and Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye. Although five individuals initially picked nomination forms, former National Chairman Dr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo did not submit his forms before the deadline. The four remaining aspirants come from the same political backgrounds. They have served the NDC at different levels, occupied public offices and contributed to the party’s development in various capacities. But the question facing the party is bigger than who has been in government, who has occupied a senior party position or who has the longest political résumé. What does each aspirant bring to the table? What has each contributed to the NDC? More importantly, what is their vision for a party that must consolidate its current governing position while preparing for the 2028 general elections? Let’s examine the contenders. 1. SOFO AWUDU AZORKA: THE GRASSROOTS ORGANISER AND INCUMBENT NATIONAL VICE-CHAIRMAN Sofo Awudu Azorka is not a newcomer to the NDC’s organisational structure. His political journey includes service at the regional and national levels, particularly in the Northern Region, where he previously served as the party’s Regional Chairman. In November 2014, he was elected Northern Regional Chairman after defeating four other contestants. He subsequently moved into the national leadership structure. At the NDC’s December 2018 National Delegates Congress, Azorka secured the position of National Vice-Chairman. He retained the position at the December 2022 congress at Accra Sports Stadium, polling 2,707 votes to emerge with the highest number of votes among the vice-chairmanship contestants. His continued presence in the national leadership has given him considerable exposure to the party’s internal administration, grassroots mobilisation and organisational politics. His political record; •Former Northern Regional Chairman of the NDC. •Former First National Vice-Chairman. •Re-elected National Vice-Chairman in 2022. •Has participated in the party’s national organisational and electoral activities over several years. His chairmanship ambition; Azorka’s candidature represents an attempt to move from the vice-chairmanship into the party’s top administrative position. His experience within the national executive structure provides an understanding of the party’s internal operations. However, members will also want to understand what changes he intends to introduce beyond the responsibilities he has already performed as Vice-Chairman. Will he prioritise stronger regional and constituency structures? How does he intend to address internal disagreements, improve party financing and ensure that grassroots members are not abandoned after elections? These are important questions for his campaign to answer. 2. DR AKWASI OPPONG-FOSU: THE ADMINISTRATOR, TECHNOCRAT AND FOUNDING MEMBER Dr Akwasi Oppong-Fosu brings a different political and administrative background to the contest. Born on February 1, 1958, he hails from Afransie in the Western Region of Ghana. He is widely regarded as one of the party’s longstanding members, with a political career that spans local government administration, parliamentary representation, ministerial responsibilities and international institutional engagements. ⤵️