The National Council of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has dismissed a petition by nine flagbearer aspirants proposing a centralized election for the party’s upcoming August 26th election.
The aspirants argued a centralized system would offer greater efficiency and transparency, expressing concerns about the current plan to allow only 900 delegates to vote at the regional level.
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is, however, the only aspirant not party to the petition.
At a crunch meeting held on Thursday, July 20, 2023, the National Council firmly rejected the petition and resolved to adhere to the party’s constitution, which outlines the decentralized election process.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, the NPP’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, confirmed that the party will proceed with its original plan for the election.
As per the party’s constitution, the NPP will reduce the number of presidential aspirants from 10 to 5 during the August 26th election.
However, to ensure an accurate and up-to-date delegate list, the party is compiling a new register due to the passing of some delegates.
Mr Kodua reiterated that the compilation of the new register was in its final stages and assured that the list would comprise between 900 and 1000 delegates, forming the special electoral college for the election. He acknowledged that the names of deceased founding members and past national officers were being removed from the register.
With the petition dismissed, the NPP is determined to move forward with its decentralized election process, emphasizing its commitment to adhering to the party’s constitution and ensuring a fair and transparent election to select the party’s presidential candidate for the 2024 elections.
The party’s presidential primaries, scheduled for August and November 2023, will see ten contenders vying for the flagbearer position. In August 2023, a super delegate conference will be held to reduce the number of candidates to five, while the primaries proper will occur in November 2023 to select the NPP’s presidential candidate for the 2024 elections.
The ten candidates include Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen, energy expert Kwadwo Poku, Essikado-Ketan MP Joe Ghartey and former Minister of Food and Agriculture Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto.
The rest include former NPP General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, MP for Assin Central Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, former MP for Offinso North Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, and former Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko.
