E/R:Aikins Okwae Oklu Calls for Unity, Hard Work to Secure NDC Victory in 2028
The newly elected Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Abuakwa South Constituency of the Eastern Region, Mr Aikins Okwae Oklu, has called on party members to embrace peace, unity and hard work as key strategies to retain power in the 2028 general elections.
Mr Oklu secured 426 votes to defeat his closest contender, who polled 226 votes, describing his victory as overwhelming. He expressed gratitude to the delegates for the confidence they had reposed in him and pledged to work towards strengthening the party in the constituency.
He revealed that he had written his victory speech before deciding to contest the election, describing it as a demonstration of his confidence in winning. He explained that his campaign began long before the elections, when he started reconnecting with party members after being elected Constituency Secretary in the previous elections. He added that he made efforts to attend social gatherings organised by party faithful whenever he received information about them.
Mr Oklu recounted how residents of his Maase Electoral Area waited until midnight to welcome him after the elections at the Kibi Presbyterian College of Education, where the polls were held. He said he was particularly surprised that many of those who came out to celebrate his victory were believed to be sympathisers of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), describing the development as an encouraging sign for the NDC in the area.
The newly elected chairman stressed the need for a unifying leader to bring party members together after internal elections, noting that divisions and voter apathy often emerge following such contests.
He said his priority would be to unite all factions within the constituency and mobilise members to work towards winning the Abuakwa South parliamentary seat in 2028, irrespective of the candidate selected by the party.
Mr Oklu recalled that the NDC had struggled to win the Abuakwa South parliamentary seat since 1992, when Hon. Owuraku Amofa became Member of Parliament. He, however, argued that no constituency should be considered a permanent stronghold of any political party, citing the NPP's victory in the Hohoe parliamentary constituency, which is widely regarded as an NDC stronghold, as an example of how electoral fortunes can change.
On youth empowerment, Mr Oklu said he would prioritise skills development and employment opportunities to help young people become economically independent.
He disclosed plans to lobby for employment opportunities for the youth at the newly constructed Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) office in Kyebi and the Minerals Commission office, which are yet to be commissioned. He therefore appealed to the relevant authorities to expedite the commissioning of the facilities to enable them to create jobs.
He also expressed hope that the government would soon roll out its community mining policy to create additional employment opportunities for young people. He further identified the newly commissioned university at Bunso as another potential source of employment for residents in the constituency.
Turning his attention to women, Mr Oklu said he would support apprenticeship programmes to equip them with employable skills and help them establish sustainable livelihoods.
He added that he would assist traders in accessing MASLOC loans and explore opportunities through the Women's Development Bank to provide financial support for their businesses and boost their trading activities.
Mr Oklu also appealed to the NDC's national and regional leadership to provide the Abuakwa South Constituency with the necessary logistics and other forms of support to strengthen its operations.
He reiterated that peace, unity and collective hard work would be essential for the party to secure victory in the 2028 general elections, urging members to put aside their differences and focus on the common goal of winning power.
Credit: Obiba Rap Soccer
Published by: Nana Kwasi Asare
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