I am Contesting National NDC Chairman Position In The Interest of The Party–Asiedu Nketiah Fires At Victor Smith
"I am contesting the national championship race of the NDC in the supreme interest of the party to help the party win the 2022 general elections to save Ghanaians from this prevailing economic hardships in the country," he stressed.
Freeman Koryekpor 
A National Chairman hopeful of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, stated that his decision to contest the national championship race was based on the numerous advises from the majority of the members and supporters of the NDC to make the party attractive for the 2024 general elections.
"I am contesting the national championship race of the NDC in the supreme interest of the party to help the party win the 2022 general elections to save Ghanaians from this prevailing economic hardships in the country," he stressed.
He has given the strongest indication yet that he is the man to lead the largest opposition party to recapture power in the 2024 general election.
He maintained that he had no doubt whatsoever in his mind that the party's delegates would give him their mandate to fulfil their desire to see the party return to power to rescue the nation from the bad governance and total maladministration exhibited by the government of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Mr Nketia pointed out that he was clear in his mind what needed to be done to bring the NDC back into government, hence his decision to go for the chairmanship of the party.
He noted that his interaction with the members of the party during his campaign tour across the country for the national chairman position had been a fulfilling one and he was of the firm belief that he would emerge victorious at the December 17, 2022 National Delegates Congress of the party to be held at the Accra Sports Stadium.
“Ultimately, my chairmanship will result in a resounding victory for the NDC in the 2024 election. That would not only be a political success for the NDC, but it is also, in fact, a national emergency and imperative”.
Mr Asiedu Nketia, who has been the NDC General Secretary for the past 17 years was responding to the leading member of the party, Victor Smith who accused Mr Nketia that he wants the NDC to go to opposition so that he becomes the Presidential Candidate of the party after the 2024 showdown.
In a sharp response stated that he welcomed advice from Mr Smith for him not to contest the position but opted against it because it is not in the interest of the party.
According to Mr Nketiah, seeking the high office of National Chairman of NDC is in the interest of the party and that anyone who counsels him against such a decision does not have the interest of the party at heart.
Reacting to a claim by the former diplomat that he (Asiedu Nketiah) rejected suggestions for him not to compete with Ofosu-Ampofo for the position, Asiedu Nketiah said that he chose to contest after considering the opinion of many influential people in his party.
He urged Victor Smith to understand his decision and stick by his opinion instead of predicting defeat for him.
“There are varied opinions so you can either accept or reject advice from a friend. I don’t remember Victor Smith having any such discussion with me but be that it may, is he saying that I don’t have a mind of my own so has to do whatever he says? If that was the case we both should wear the same shirt.
“Advice is a raw material for decision making so you gather everything and make the final decision. If it is his wish that I don’t understand, I thank him but God has given me wisdom and he is not my only friend.
“If he has a mindset contrary to my decision, he should stick to his opinion and let me also stick to mine. I know what is good for the party so if a friend or my mother says something, I will thank him or her but pursue what is in the interest of the party,” he said on Okay FM.
Victor Smith who has declared support for Ofosu-Ampofo disclosed that Asiedu Nketiah did not heed to calls from himself and former president John Dramani Mahama for him not to contest Ofosu-Ampofo.
He said that Asiedu Nketiah would lose the election and be handed the role of campaign manager for the 2024 elections.
“You’ve been there as General Secretary for 17 years, what is it that you couldn’t do as General Secretary that you now want to do?
“Is it that he wants us to go to opposition so that he becomes the leader of the party? It is very worrying we have to get to this.
“If the delegates choose him, we’ll work with him but if he tries to do anything untoward, we’ll cut him to size. If you try to ditch the party by pursuing your parochial interest, we’ll cut you to size and this goes to everybody,” he forewarned.
