NDC Intensifies Electoral Readiness in Oti Region Amidst Galamsey Allegations and Media Legal Battles

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has significantly ramped up its grassroots operations in the Oti Region, providing high-powered jungle motorbikes to all nine Constituency Directors of Elections and Information Technology. Led by National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the initiative aims to enhance mobility for monitoring electoral activities and supporting voter education. This logistical boost follows the recent provision of a pickup vehicle for the Regional Director, signaling a strategic effort by the party to solidify its internal communication and election management machinery ahead of future polls. Regional Secretary Gabriel Lemboe emphasized that these tools are essential for empowering local officers to execute their roles effectively.

While the party strengthens its internal structures, it faces sharp criticism from Minority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin regarding its stance on illegal mining. Speaking at the University of Mines and Technology, Afenyo-Markin accused the NDC of using the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) to promote 'galamsey,' which he argues contradicts the party's public promises to eradicate the practice. He highlighted that GoldBod, established to regulate gold trading, generated over $10 billion in revenue between January 2025 and May 2026, yet he alleged that the NDC's governance has failed to deliver on promises related to economic management and women's empowerment.

Simultaneously, the NDC is embroiled in a heated confrontation with the media in the Central Region. Prof. Richard Kofi Asiedu, the NDC Central Regional Chairman, has filed a GH₵10 million defamation lawsuit against Kasoa-based Obaatanpa FM and morning show host Kofi Kyei Baffour. The suit follows allegations made on-air that Prof. Asiedu orchestrated violence within the Awutu Senya East Constituency and the broader region. This legal action coincides with a stern condemnation from the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), which reported an actual physical attack on the same radio station. The GJA has called for a transparent police investigation, urging the NDC to publicly denounce the violence and discipline any party members involved, asserting that such actions threaten press freedom.

These developments occur against a backdrop of internal party speculation regarding leadership succession. While rumors have circulated about National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia's presidential aspirations, the political landscape remains tense with competing narratives. Fact-checkers have recently scrutinized statements attributed to veteran journalist Kwesi Pratt Jnr regarding Nketia’s potential candidacy, highlighting the intense scrutiny facing party leaders. As the major political parties navigate these accusations of illegal mining and threats to media independence, the focus remains on how these controversies will shape the electoral discourse and the stability of Ghana’s democratic institutions.