Ade Coker to step down as Chairman as Stephen Akwetey leads……
Pressure is mounting on the Greater Accra regional chairman of the NDC Messr. Ade Coker to withdraw his candidature for re-election. The call for his withdrawal has reached a crescendo that even the Flagstaff House is concerned about the negative publicity Ade Coker is giving the party in the region. The NDC party which is facing legal suits in some constituencies is also been challenged to restore the declining popularity of the party in the Greater Accra region. Speaking to journalist while departing for the UK to attend the annual Labour Party Conference, chief scribe, Asiedu Nketia expressed grief on the leadership style of the Greater Accra regional chairman Ade Coker which has caused so much trouble in the party leading to several court cases in some of the constituencies. Asiedu Nketia hinted that the national executives are critically reviewing the conducts of Mr. Ade Coker and will come out with a definite stand on the beleaguered regional chairman. But party insiders have already hinted that asking Ade Coker to withdraw his re-election bid for the general good of the NDC is high on the cards. NDC party members have consistently blame the regional chairman for the numerous law suits against the party and the disaffection towards the party in the region. Many claim Ade Coker’s self-centeredness has overcome his consciousness of the social democratic tendencies of the NDC. Ade Coker is believed to be subverting the will of the people and also abusing his authority as regional Chairman. Among his strong critics is the outspoken party stalwart, Bernard Allotey Jacobs , the NDC Central Regional Secretary, who posited that Ade Coker will cost NDC the 2016 elections. According to Allotey Jacobs, the party will lose the 2016 elections if the national executives fail to bring the incumbent Greater Accra regional chairman to order. The outspoken NDC member recounted the major role winning the Greater Accra region has played in past elections and averred that the region remains a defining factor in winning election 2016 and with people like the current leadership, the future looks bleak for the party. In yet another development, the Presidency is keenly monitoring the unfolding events of the party in the region and will soon give counsel to the national executives on their take. A Presidential staffer, who spoke on condition of anonymity hinted that the President is concerned of the effect the litigations will have on uniting the party as the troubles in the once peaceful regional structure seems to be unending. The Presidential staffer stated that just as NDC partisans in the region have lost confidence in the leadership of Mr. Ade Coker, the President will be the first to cast a vote of no confidence in the regional chairman if the need arises. It can be recalled that during the early days of President Mahama’s leadership, Mr. Ade Coker went on rampage in criticizing the President’s appointment of Municipal and District chief executives for the Greater Accra region. Mr. Ade Coker’s vituperations stem from the fact that, the President rejected names that he personally forwarded to the Presidency for consideration. Mr. Coker by then vowed to make life uncomfortable for those appointees who to him do not deserve those appointments. It is however very early to figure out if nemesis is catching up with the beleaguered regional chairman. It is also not clear as yet who is to succeed the incumbent regional chairman but information gathered indicated that a former Chairman and Board Member of Accra Hearts of Oak football club, Stephen Akwetey is in pole position to take over from Ade Coker. It is well acknowledged within the NDC corridors that Stephen Akwetey who recently cut sod for the construction of 34 constituency offices in the Greater Accra region is the preferred candidate of the NDC grassroot in the region as well as the kingpin of the seat of government. Many in the party are hoping that Stephen Akwetey will bring back the self-sacrificing leadership which has been missing in the Ade Coker administration.
