PNC Elects ‘Top Demo Contractor’ As Flagbearer

A former national chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Bernard Anbataayela Mornah, known for his expertise in organizing massive demonstrations, has been elected as the flagbearer of the party.

Mr Mornah, a regular feature in the Ghanaian media space, joins the likes of former president John Dramani Mahama, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Alan Kyerematen, Nana Kwame Bediako, among others, to battle it out in the forthcoming December 7 general election.

The 51-year-old, was announced as the winner of the flagbearer contest by the Greater Accra Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Gladys Pinkrah, at the University for Development Studies (UDS) Guest House in Accra on Saturday, September 7, 2024.

The media personality and a friend of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) garnered an impressive 1,138 votes, defeating his challenger, David Apasera, who managed to secure 216 votes.

The election, was also used to elect its national executives ahead of the December 7 poll.

From his days with the NDC’s Committee for Joint Action (CJA) to present day Arise Ghana, another political pressure group, Mr Mornah, has not failed to join or lead demonstrations against government, especially when his friends are not in power.

In all these years, the former chairman, is often seen with his signature ‘red bere,t’ leading one protests or another, amidst arrests and beatings by the Police.

In December 2017, he was arrested by the Nima Police, together with 18 others and granted bail, after what was said to be an unlawful assembly at the Kawukudi Park in Accra.

The gathering was in support of Togolese nationals who were agitating for change in government in their country.

In the event that he is elected as president, Mr Mornah, who has promised to be ‘people’s president’, many are waiting to see how his presidency will be.

Speaking after his resounding victory, Mr Mornarh, called on his contender and incumbent chairman, David Apasera, to join hands for the battle ahead to help the party win political power.

Before the voting, Bernard Mornah, expressed his confidence in winning, citing his track record as a politician and his contributions to the party.

Addressing the media after casting his vote, Mornah declared, “I am the people’s President and I am excited about the turn of events so far.”

He also promised to be a revolutionary leader, envisioning a future where Ghana’s local dialects, would become national languages.

The PNC Congress, which was initially scheduled to start at 9 am, faced delays due to an injunction filed by David Apasera’s camp.

However, the party managed to resolve the dispute, allowing the Congress to proceed smoothly.

In the evening, tensions erupted as party activists mounted pressure at the conclusion of the presidential primaries.

It saw agents for various aspirants, challenging the results declared by the Electoral Commission (EC) officer.

The exact discrepancies remain unclear, but the confusion erupted immediately after the EC officer announced the results.

Party members and supporters, expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome, leading to a chaotic scene as accusations were made regarding the legitimacy of the process.

During counting, Mr Mornah, led in the Greater Accra Region.

In a parallel contest for the national chairmanship, Samson Awingobit, also emerged victorious in the Greater Accra region, securing 106 votes, with his contender Hajia Hajara Ali, garnering 55 votes.

The election, follows a similar one by a sister Nkruamaist party, the Convention People’s Party (CPP) on Wednesday September 4, which elected the party’s former chairperson, Frimpomaa Kumakuma Sarpong, as one of two female flagbearers in this year’s election.

Earlier, the recently formed People’s National Party (PNP), a breakaway group from the PNC, named Janet Nabla, as its flagbearer.