George Opare Addo also known as ‘Pablo’ has been re-elected as National Youth Organizer of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), silencing his loud critics in the party after defeating Yaw Brogya Genfi, a heavily-sponsored candidate of former President John Mahama in a highly emotional election.
The humble national youth organiser had been a subject of unwarranted vilification and unscrupulous character assassination by individuals who claim to be loyalists of the former President who is seeking to lead NDC again after successive defeats in the last two general elections.
Pablo was heavily insulted ahead of the polls by Mahama loyalists including social media detractor Kevin Taylor some radio show hosts, apparently due to the former’s close association with former Minister for Finance and NDC presidential hopeful, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor.
There were even some pompous characters in the current national executives who vigorously campaigned against Opare Addo because such self-important individuals said they could not work with the national youth organiser.
However, notwithstanding the bastardisation and doling out of obscene cash by Mahama adherents, the former Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Akuapem North brushed off stiff competition from Brogya Genfi his sole opponent in the election that took place at the Examination Hall of the University of Cape Coast on Saturday.
At the end of the voting and counting of ballots, Pablo garnered 533 votes as against Brogya Genfi’s 508.
There were tense moments during the counting of votes as supporters of both candidates sang and danced amid claims of having won the vote.
Pablo’s victory has ensured Brogya has suffered second straight defeat at the hands of Opare Addo who first defeated him in 2018.
Opare Addo’s newly elected deputies are Osman Abdulai Ayariga and Ruth Dela Sedorm who obtained 373 and 313 votes respectively.
In his acceptance speech, Pablo thanked the delegates for reposing their trust in him and called for unity to successfully wrestle power from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 general election.
“Now that this election has ended there is no Brogya Genfi camp or Opare Addo camp we are all one people fighting for one goal.
“Like I say all the time, we have just won the battle, but we have a war to fight, and so we are not going to be carried away by the battle we have won. We expect to unite, and we must bring everyone on board….”, he added.
Hanna Bissiw retained
Dr. Hanna Louisa Bissiw has been retained as the National Women’s Organiser of the NDC.
She polled 433 votes to beat her closest contender, Margaret Ansei aka Magoo who obtained 362 votes of the total valid ballot cast during the NDC’s Women and Youth congress held at the University of Cape Coast.
Abigail Akwabea Elorm Mensah and Felicia Dzifa Tegah who obtained 341 and 260 votes respectively were also elected as the Deputy Women’s Organisers of the party.
Meanwhile, the NDC will be holding its national delegates congress at the Accra Sports Stadium on December 17, 2017 to elect the rest of the national officers to run the affairs of the party into the 2024 elections and for the next for years.
