NPP To Expand The Electoral College For Elections Of National Women's Organizer And National Youth Organizer

The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Constitutional Review Committee headed by Mr F.F Antoh has proposed an Amendment to the Article 14 of the NPP's constitution which seeks to marginally expand the electoral college for the election of the National women's organizer and the National Youth Organizer.

The committee stated in its report at page 18 that "The committee introduced further amendment to Article 14 for the council’s considerations. It is observed that the current Electoral College for selection of Executives for women's wing and the youth wing is discriminatory against some persons who naturally and ordinarily qualify to elect executives and who qualify to be described as either "youths" or "women".

The report further stated that" To cure this mischief, the insertion of the following new provisions are recommended:
Article 14 (2)(c): "for purposes of elections, delegates for the election for the National Womens Organizer shall be all females entitled to vote at the National Annual Delegates conference."
Article 14 (3)(c): "for purposes of elections delegates for the election of the National Youth Organizer shall be all Youth entitled to vote at the National Annual Delegates conference,"
The proposed provisions to be inserted in the NPPs Constitution would mean that the proposed electoral -college for the election of National Women’s Organizer would constitute;

1. All female MP’s
2. All Female who are members of the regional executive committee including the regional women's organizers
3. All females who are members of constituency executives committee including constituency women’s organizers
4. TESCON Women Commissioners and
5. Women organizers from recognized external branches of the party.
Again the proposal if endorsed by the National Delegates conference would mean any delegate at the National annual delegates conference who is yet to attain the age of forty (40) years is entitled to vote in the election of the National Youth Organizer. The electoral college therefore would constitute;

1. All MP’s below 40 years of age,
2. Regional executive committee members below 40 years,
3. Constituency executive committee members below 40 years,
4. A representative of TESCON from all recognized institutions
5. One Youth representative of the party’s external branches recognized by the party.

These proposed provisions is a departure from various petitions demanding that the party adopts a ‘free range voting system,’ which allows all delegates to partake in the election of national women's organizer and the National Youth Organizer. In the thinking of the Constitutional Review Committee, these wings are unique and so only delegates who fall within the meaning of these wings must form part of the electoral college.

The constitutional Review committee concluded by stating in the report that "it is hoped the Extraordinary Delegates Conference will vote to adopt the proposed amendments which will ensure cohesion within the party, enhance efficiency of the functioning of relevant organs of the party, reduce the risk of controversies and/ or litigation as well as make the provisions generally tidy".

Source: Peacefmonline