BY Grace Zigah
Alhaji Yahaya Al-Haqq, the Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Obuasi East Constituency, has formally declared his intention to contest for the position of Ashanti Regional Organiser, setting the stage for what is expected to be a keenly contested internal party race in one of the NDC’s most politically strategic regions.
His declaration marks a significant new chapter in the political trajectory of a figure who rose to national prominence during the December 2024 general elections, following a widely publicised confrontation with two armed soldiers at a polling station in Obuasi East.
The incident, which occurred amid heightened security deployments across the country during the elections, drew both public attention and political reactions.
Al-Haqq’s actions were later publicly acknowledged by the President then NDC flagbearer John Dramani Mahama, who commended him for what he described as courage and bravery in the defence of electoral processes and civilian authority.
Since the 2024 elections, Al-Haqq has remained a visible and vocal actor in local politics in the Obuasi enclave, particularly on issues affecting youth livelihoods and small-scale mining communities.
He has consistently positioned himself as an advocate for artisanal and small-scale miners, arguing that economic exclusion and unemployment among the youth in mining towns pose both social and political risks.
In August 2025, Al-Haqq publicly vowed to lead demonstrations against Municipal and Metropolitan Chief Executives (MCEs), Members of Parliament, and the central government if designated mining zones were not created for small-scale miners in the Obuasi area.
In a widely circulated statement, he argued that the survival of the youth in mining communities is directly linked to access to local natural resources, warning that continued neglect would deepen frustration and political disengagement.
“He who lives by the sea eats by the sea; we live by the rocks, so the youth should be given a place to work for peace to reign in Obuasi,” he stated, adding that without economic opportunities for the youth, political parties would struggle to mobilise support in future elections.
Within the NDC, Al-Haqq’s move into the Ashanti Regional Organiser race is being interpreted as a strategic attempt to convert his grassroots visibility, activism, and reputation for confrontation into institutional influence within the party’s regional structure.
The Ashanti Region, traditionally a stronghold of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), remains a critical battleground for the NDC’s long-term electoral strategy, making the organiser role particularly significant in terms of party mobilisation, constituency coordination, and grassroots expansion.
Party insiders say his campaign is likely to focus on youth mobilisation, community-level organisation, and strengthening the party’s presence in mining and peri-urban communities, where economic grievances and political disillusionment remain high.
