The Ashanti Regional Delegates’ Congress of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has opened under tight security at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
The congress is to elect the substantive regional executive officers who will lead the party in the Ashanti Region for the next four years.
More than 1,000 security personnel have been deployed in and around the venue to ensure a peaceful and orderly process.
Police officers and other security personnel have been stationed at the main entrance, the voting area and other strategic points to control the movement of delegates, aspirants and supporters.
As part of the heightened security measures, security check machines are being used to scan delegates and other invited persons, including the media, before they are allowed to enter the stadium.
Only accredited delegates, election officials and accredited media are being allowed into the inner voting area, while supporters are being kept at a distance to prevent overcrowding and possible disturbances.
The NDC has 15 distinct regional executive positions in its regional executive structure.
The party has already held its Youth and Women’s Congress, at which the Regional Youth Organiser, Deputy Youth Organiser, Women’s Organiser and Deputy Women’s Organiser were elected.
That leaves 11 positions to be contested at today’s congress, with 48 candidates aspiring for the various offices.
The positions up for election include the Regional Chairman, Vice Chairmen, Secretary, Deputy Secretaries, Treasurer, Deputy Treasurer, Organiser, Deputy Organisers, Communications Officer, Deputy Communications Officers, Zongo Caucus Coordinator and other executive roles.
A total of 1,445 delegates from the 47 constituencies in the Ashanti Region, together with the outgoing regional executives, are expected to cast their votes today.
The delegates began arriving at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium early in the morning for accreditation and verification before voting commenced.
Officials of the Electoral Commission supervising the polls say they are determined to ensure a free, fair, transparent and credible election.
The congress, which was scheduled to start at 7:00 am and end at 4:00 pm, had still not started as at 9:00 am.
Delegates were still going through accreditation and the rigorous security checks at the entrance, while election officials had yet to set up the voting area for the commencement of polls.
The delay has left many delegates waiting in queues in and around the stadium, with some expressing frustration over the slow pace of the process.
Party officials, however, say they are working to resolve the challenges to ensure voting starts as soon as possible.
The Ashanti Region is a stronghold of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), making the NDC’s regional elections critical to the party’s strategy to improve its fortunes in the region.
The new executives to be elected today will be responsible for mobilising grassroots support, coordinating constituency activities, and leading the party’s campaign efforts ahead of future elections.