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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has begun vetting aspirants seeking regional executive positions of the party. The party had to reopen nominations after a controversial clause in the party�s guidelines was expunged. The clause stated that �Before a member contests the regional elections, the member should have held position at the lower level of the party or in government,��. This clause did not go down well with the rank and file of the party one of whom took the party to court for disqualifying them from contesting regional elections. Cause of delay Per the party�s original timetable, the regional elections should have been completed by early October but the delay was occasioned by a court action instituted by a member of the party, Mr Linus Njolona, who claimed that the guidelines set by the national executive of the party were not in consonance with the NDC constitution. After several pieces of advice from the sitting High Court Judge, Justice Jacob Boon, the party finally sat with Mr Njolona and his counsel and agreed on an out-of-court settlement. Guidelines The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party then had to step in and expunge the clause from the guidelines, which satisfied the aggrieved members and the case was settled out of court amicably. The reopening of nominations for five days provided a window of opportunity for those disqualified to pick forms and file their nominations to contest the election at the regional level. Greater Accra As a result, Abdul Aziz reports from Accra that 73 aspirants picked the forms and that 66 had filed their nominations as at the close of nominations at 5 p.m. on November 1. The vetting of the 66 aspirants of the NDC contesting for various positions at the regional level is set to begin tomorrow. Vetting Committee In the Greater Accra Region, the Vetting Committee, which is chaired by Dr Robert Dodoo, Chairman of the Civil Service Council, is vetting the aspirants. Four aspirants are contesting the key position of regional chairman, five for the vice chairman, five for the secretary, four for organiser treasurer two, propaganda secretary six, women organiser three, deputy women organiser six, youth organiser two, and deputy youth organiser, nine. Mr Ade Coker, Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the party, told the Daily Graphic that all the 34 constituencies had held their conferences to elect their executives, which had paved the way for the regional elections to take place. He said that NDC had proven that it was a democratic party whose doors were open to whoever wanted to participate in the regional conference to pick their forms and file their nominations. He, therefore, called for civility in the conduct of the campaign leading to the regional elections. He explained that the campaign should be issues-based and devoid of the spinning of lies, vilification and the destruction of people�s hard won reputation. Ashanti Region From Kumasi, Donald Ato Dapatem reports that a four-member committee started vetting aspirants contesting positions in the Ashanti Region on Monday. The positions being contested are those of the youth organiser, deputy youth organiser, women�s organiser and deputy women�s organiser. Headed by a former National Organiser, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, the committee would also vet the remaining positions from Tuesday. Sixty-nine aspirants of the NDC would go through the vigorous scrutiny of the committee to verify their suitability to contest for 17 positions in the party at the regional level. Those vetted on Monday included Brogya Gyenfi and Kwaku Boahen for the youth organiser post. Five other persons vetted for the position of the deputy youth organiser are Bashiru Dombine, Awal Mohammed, Benjamin Agble, Usman Abdelah and Aseidu Keteke. Ms Ama Sarpomah, Hajia Hajara Saddique and Mary Bonsu were vetted for the women�s organiser positions. According to the party�s Regional Secretary, Mr Raymond Tandoh, it is expected that the committee would vet the individual aspirants to ascertain, among others, whether they are full-fledged Ghanaians, registered members of the NDC, attained age 18, not members of any other political party and also without any criminal record. Other positions For the position of chairman, Mr Yaw Obimpeh is being challenged by three other persons. They are Mr T. K. Braimah , Frank Mensah, Dominic Anonal and Mr Godwin Onoma. Alhaji Sam Abdullai, Mr Obeng Adu Twum, Rashid Alhassan, Kweku Sei and Owusu Kankam would contest the regional organiser position. Another position that would be hotly contested is the regional youth organiser. Anthony K. Boahen would have to gird his loins and compete with Mr Brogya Genfi. Upper West From Wa in the Upper West Region, Emmanuel Modey reports that all is set for the NDC delegates congress. Vetting of 55 aspirants, including nine females competing for 14 slots, is scheduled for today. In spite of the extension of the date to allow for new aspirants to pick nomination forms at the regional office from October 27-31 to contest positions available, no new person came forward for any fresh form. All the aspirants had picked and duly returned their forms since September 23, this year. According to the Upper West Regional Organiser of the NDC, Mr Adams Issahaq, five of the aspirants were seeking the regional chairman position, six for the the vice chairman and four and three contestants want to be secretary and deputy respectively. Mr Issahaq said two aspirants, including himself, were locking horns for the regional organiser position with five others bidding for the seat of the deputy organiser. Four people are standing to be the propaganda secretary and four, including a female, were contesting the deputy propaganda secretary position. Whereas two are seeking to become the treasurer, three others want to assist. Three females are in the race for the position of women's organiser with five to assist. For the youth organiser, two aspirants have returned their forms, whereas seven are vying for the assistant position. Mr Issahaq attributed the large number of contestants to the extensive groundwork done by the existing regional executive in whipping up interest in the party at both the constituency and regional levels. He said the contestants were undertaking healthy and competitive campaigns with the aim of annexing their respective positions and assisting the NDC to retain power in 2016. He said they were anxiously awaiting the voting date of November 16, set by the Regional Executive Committee (REC) for the elections, including the youth wing and women's wing organiser positions, to which they expressed the hope to present not less than 134 delegates.