The national hierarchy of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has asked all prospective candidates vying for national positions in the national delegates’ conference scheduled for Koforidua in the Eastern Region from June 15-17, 2018 to respect the rules of engagement.
The Acting General Secretary of the party, John Boadu, made the appeal yesterday at a media briefing in Accra.
He appealed to supporters of the various aspirants to remember that the elections are internal and that there is the strong need for them to also observe the same rules in order to maintain the unity within the party after the electoral exercise.
He said a national elections committee, comprising Rev Prof Samuel Asante-Antwi (chairman), Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Agnes Okudzeto (former national third vice chairperson of the NPP), Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful (MP for Ablekuma West and Minister of Communication) and Evans Nimako (acting director of research and elections) had been put in place to oversee the conduct of the elections.
Announcing the time-table for the elections, Mr John Boadu said that nominations for all the national positions would be opened from 3-10 May, 2018, and vetting takes place from Thursday, May 17 to 24, with vetting report expected to be released on May 28.
According to the acting general secretary, all prospective candidates are expected to fill their application forms accurately and submit them to the National Elections Committee not later than Tuesday, May 15.
“Any applicant, who is dissatisfied with the vetting processes, may appeal to the National Council of Elders within three days for immediate redress and the decision of the National Council of Elders shall be final,” Mr Boadu said.
He stressed that any applicant who would refuse to use all the internal party mechanisms to address any disputes as prescribed by Article 4(6) of the party’s constitution and go to court to seek redress would automatically be barred from taking part in the impending elections.
According to the acting general secretary, candidates aspiring to be national chairperson will pay a non-refundable application fee of GH¢10,000; vice chairperson aspirant will pay GH¢8,000; general secretary will pay GH¢6,000; national oprganiser and national treasurer is GH¢5,000 while youth organizer, women organizer and Nasara Coordinator will pay a fee of GH¢3,000.
Mr John Boadu indicated that all application forms will have to be purchased at the national headquarters of the party at Asylum Down in Accra strictly within working hours.
He added that all aspirants are supposed to procure the application forms by themselves.
According to the acting general secretary, about 5,000 delegates at home and abroad are expected to attend the national conference.
“The national conference, pursuant to Article 10(2) and (3) of the party’s constitution, shall be attended by members of the National Council, members of the National Executive Committee, all members of the Regional Executive Committees, all members of the Constituency Executive Committees, 15 members of the National Council of Elders, 12 delegates from every external branch as defined under Article 8(2) of the party’s constitution, 15 patrons elected from among themselves, one TESCON member from each of the recognized tertiary institutions in the country, founding members across the country who are signatories to the registration documents of the party at the Electoral Commission, all NPP Members of Parliament in the various regions and all party members who are Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs),” Mr Boadu declared.
He commended the regional election committees for conducting successful elections in the various regions, which had brought into being new regional executives.
“The party also commends the efforts of the three-man committee comprising, Sammy Awuku, Evans Nimako and Bob Agbontor, which was constituted by the national steering committee to help in the resolution of all disputes in all outstanding constituencies,” he said, adding that deputy general secretary, Nana Obiri Boahen, must also be commended for his invaluable contributions towards the resolution of these matters behind the scene.
<<Print>>