NPP Prohibits MMDCEs and Party Executives from Parliamentary Primaries
The National Council of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has made several key decisions regarding the upcoming presidential and parliamentary primaries. These decisions were reached during a meeting held on Thursday, July 20, 2023.
Firstly, the Council decided that regional and constituency party executives who wish to contest in the primaries in constituencies with sitting Members of Parliament must resign from their respective positions no later than September 20, 2023. Their resignation letters should be submitted to their respective Regional Party Secretariats by the same date.
Secondly, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in constituencies where the Party has sitting Members of Parliament are not eligible to contest in the parliamentary primaries for those constituencies.
The Council also approved the recommendations of the Vetting Committee, clearing all ten Aspiring Presidential Candidates to contest in the primaries. The approved candidates are Hon. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, Mr. Kwadwo Poku, His Excellency Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Hon. Boakye Kyerematen Agyarko, Mr. Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Hon. Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, Hon. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Hon. Joe Ghartey (Esq), and Hon. Ing. Francis Addai-Nimoh.
The Special Electoral College, scheduled for August 26, 2023, will be held in each of the 16 Regional Capitals. Each delegate will be entitled to one vote and will cast their vote by secret ballot for only one candidate. All Aspiring Presidential Candidates will be given the validated Album for the Special Electoral College at least one month before the date of the Congress, not later than July 26, 2023. The Electoral Commission of Ghana will conduct the Special Electoral College elections.
To ensure the smooth conduct of the primaries, an Elections Committee has been constituted. The committee will supervise the Special Electoral College and the National Congress. The committee members include Rt. Rev. Rt. Hon. Prof. Mike Aaron Ocquaye as Chairman, Mr. Abankwa Yeboah as Vice Chairman, and several other members.
The National Council expressed concern over some unhealthy comments and utterances from some aspiring Presidential Candidates and their supporters, which do not promote unity and cohesion within the Party. The Council emphasized compliance with the Code of Conduct for Presidential and Parliamentary Elections of the Party. Any Aspiring Presidential Candidate, their supporters, and party executives who act in contravention of the Code of Conduct will be dealt with in accordance with the guidelines and the Party Constitution.
The guidelines include campaigning on issues and refraining from levelling unsubstantiated allegations, personal attacks, and vilifications against opponents. Aspiring Presidential Candidates are also prohibited from undertaking any activity that will polarize the Party along tribal, religious, and other factional lines. Supporters are urged to refrain from engaging in any of these activities.
Additionally, Aspiring Presidential Candidates will be required to sign an undertaking with the party, committing themselves to support the eventual elected/selected Presidential Candidate and not contest as an Independent Presidential Candidate or on the ticket of any other political party.
The photo Album/Register used to elect the Constituency Executives between April 22, 2022, and May 2, 2023, will be made available to the Electoral Commission of Ghana for the conduct of the presidential primaries.
Delegates who appoint proxies must apply to the National Secretariat three weeks before the conduct of the presidential primaries, and the proxies must be delegates to the conference.
The NPP emphasizes that any Aspiring Presidential Candidate who flouts the guidelines and modalities or conducts themselves in a manner that brings the Party’s name into disrepute will be deemed in breach of the Party Constitution and will be sanctioned, including disqualification from contesting in the Primaries.
The Party expects all stakeholders, particularly the candidates and their supporters, to strictly comply with these rules and regulations in the supreme interest of the Party.
Justin Kodua Frmipong, the General Secretary of the NPP, concludes the press release by wishing all Aspiring Presidential Candidates the best of luck in the primaries and reiterating the importance of adhering to the guidelines and regulations.