NPP Picks August 30 For Special Congress

Kwabena Agyapong
Leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will today meet to finalise arrangements for its impending National Delegates' Congress to elect a flagbearer.

Ahead of the scheduled meetings of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the National Council (NC) of the party, the Steering Committee, made up of national officers of the NPP, are said to have proposed Saturday August 30, 2014, for the Special Congress to prune down the number of the presidential aspirants from seven to five as provided by its constitution.

Seven people filed their papers to contest the flagbearship position at the close of nominations on July 7, 2014.

A source at the party's Asylum Down national headquarters told DAILY GUIDE that a number of proposals had been received and deliberated upon at the Steering Committee meeting held last Friday.

They were also said to have proposed Saturday November 1, 2014, as the possible date for the National Delegates' Congress after the five have been settled on.

The earlier suggestion of December 6, 2014, appears to have been discarded, making the November 1, a compromise date for the proponents of early and late congress.

The committee of regional chairmen had advocated for September as the period for the congress while some members of the party had even suggested next year to allow for a restructuring exercise, against the party's constitution.

The NEC, comprising national officers, regional chairmen and other selected individuals of the party, is therefore expected to meet this morning to consider the proposed dates as to be presented by the General Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong and forward its decision later in the day to the National Council - the highest decision-making body after Congress - for ratification.

The new National Council will be constituted before the meeting, with the recently elected regional representatives taking their seats.

The re-constitution of the National Council was occasioned by a law suit filed by David Hoezame, former Constituency Chairman of Central Tongu in the Volta Region, challenging the previous composition of the Council.

Hoezame Case Thrown Out
Even though an Accra High Court presided over by Justice Ofori Atta yesterday threw out Hoezame's case, the party had gone ahead to elect the regional representatives to constitute the Council - as demanded by Hoezame.

By the close of day today, the NPP is expected to put out firm dates for the two events which would lead to the election of a standard bearer to lead the party to the 2016 general elections.

The seven aspirants contesting for the presidential slot are two-time flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo; twice-defeated flagbearer hopeful, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen; former Offinso North MP, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku; MP for Esikado-Ketan who doubles as 2nd Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joe Ghartey; former MP for Mfanstiman West, Stephen Asamoah-Boateng; the MP for Asuogyaman, Kofi Osei-Ameyaw as well as Mampong MP, Francis Addai-Nimo.

Provisions
Article 12 (5) B of the NPP's constitution states that 'where there are more than five contestants for nomination as the party's Presidential candidate, a Special Electoral College shall cast their votes by secret ballot for the first five contestants  to be short-listed.'

It proceeds to talk about the composition of the electoral college which includes 'the National Council, National Executive Council, Regional Executive Committees, National Council of Elders, Members of Parliament, three representatives of each of THE special organs of the party, past National Officers, three representatives each from every external branch, Founding Members during the registration of the party at the Electoral Commission, all New Patriotic Party card-bearing Ministers when the party is in government.'

Even though some have made suggestions as to how the voting should be conducted for the Special Congress in the face of a provision in the party's Constitution which states categorically that 'every delegate shall be entitled to one vote' one of the founding members, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, insists there is no ambiguity in the statute.

One-man, One Vote
Prof. Oquaye, who is a celebrated historian and lawyer, stated in a recent write-up that, 'Every delegate is entitled to one vote in accordance with Article 12 (5) (B), and depending on the number of votes that each contestant receives, the first five contestants will be shortlisted accordingly. This means that they will be ranked according to the number of votes cast in favour of each contestant.'

Other details of the Special Congress and the main National Delegates' Congress, including venue and modalities for the events, are also expected to be made known after today's crucial meeting.

 By Charles Takyi-Boadu