NPP Presidential Hopefuls To Ballot For Positions Today

Seven candidates vying to lead the opposition New Patriotic Party into the 2016 general elections will later Tuesday morning ballot for positions for the upcoming Super Delegates primaries. A Special Electoral College has been fixed for August 31, 2014, which is aimed at whittling the number down to five as the party�s constitution demands. The National Vetting Committee of the New Patriotic Party approved the candidacy of all the seven presidential aspirants who were vetted last week. The aspirants are: the 2012 flagbearer of the party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo; a former Trade Minister, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen; Member of Parliament for Mampong, Francis Addai Nimo; and Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, a former MP for Offinso. The rest are: a former Information Minister, Stephen Asamoah Boateng; Joe Ghartey, MP for Essikado-Ketan; and Asuogyaman MP, Osei Ameyaw. Director of Elections at the NPP Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah told JOYNEWS, the candidates are expected to converge at the party�s headquarters for the brief exercise later Tuesday morning. Positions on a ballot in Ghana politics is considered an important campaign tool and is claimed to gift the candidate an advantage. After placing third on the ballot for the national chairmanship position, then aspirant Paul Afoko announced, the number three represented the trinity. Mr. Afoko said being third on the ballot paper makes him the obvious choice because the number three represents NPP's founding fathers, Danquah, Busia and Dombo. He won the position convincingly. The NDC said that the Number 1 spot where President John Dramani Mahama was placed on the 2012 presidential ballot paper, chimes perfectly with the onetouch victory the ruling party is working hard for. The party eventually won.