NPP Elects Flagbearer October 18

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, 2012 Flagbearer, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen and Joe Ghartey

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has finally settled on Sunday August 31, 2014 for its Special Congress to prune down the number of aspirants contesting for the flagbearership position of the party from seven to five.

It would be followed by the National Delegates' Congress to elect a flagbeaber for the December 7, 2016 elections among the remaining five aspirants on Saturday October 18, 2014.

These were among the decisions reached at a joint meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Council of the party held in Accra on Wednesday, even though some leading members of the NPP were initially pushing for congress to be held in December 2014.

Unlike the usual congress where all accredited delegates converge on a single venue to elect the flagbearer, this time around, voting would be done on a regional basis at designated centres for both the Special Congress and the National Delegates' Congress.

The seven aspirants contesting for the presidential slot are two-time flagbearer Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, former Trade Minister Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, former Offinso North MP Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, MP for Esikado-Ketan Joe Ghartey, former MP for Mfanstiman West Stephen Asamoah-Boateng and the MP for Asuogyaman Kofi Osei-Ameyaw as well as Mampong MP Francis Addai-Nimo.

Time-Table
The party has therefore drawn up a timetable for activities leading to the two major events on its calendar, with vetting of the seven aspirants set to take place between Wednesday July 23, 2014 (next week) and Friday July 25, 2014.

Open Forum
Francis Addai Nimoh and Kofi Osei Ameyaw
Leadership of the party has also decided to organise an open forum for protest against any of the aspirants, if any, on Monday August 4, 2014 which would be followed by a compilation of the delegates' register from the polling stations to National from Friday August 11 to 16, 2014.

On Tuesday August 12, 2014, all seven aspirants would ballot for positions on the ballot paper, leading to the special, mini or super delegates' conference to shortlist five candidates amongst the seven on Sunday August 31, 2014.

After that, the next major event on the NPP's calendar would be on Saturday October 18, 2014 when the party goes to congress to elect a possible flagbearer to lead them into the crucial 2016 general elections.

The fate of all seven aspirants would first be decided by 826 party faithful who make up the Special Electoral College.

The college comprises 123 Members of Parliament (MPs), 55 members of the National Council, 10 members of the National Executive Committee, 44 members of the National Council of Elders, 435 members of the Regional Executive Committee, nine members of Special Organs of the NPP, 48 members of the External Branches, 27 past National Officials and 75 Founding Members, totalling 826 delegates with each of them having one vote.

New Appointments
As part of the laid-down rules, the joint meeting of NEC and National Council also ratified the appointment of members of all the six Standing Committees of the party; Vetting, Constitutional and Legal, Disciplinary, Research, Finance and Organisation committees.

Madam Ama Busia, a former Member of the Council of State has been made Chairperson of the Vetting Committee, taking over from C.K. Tedam, who still holds the position of Chairman of Council of Elders.

Historian, lawyer and former MP, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye now takes over from Lawyer Joseph Nii Ayikoi Otoo as Chairman of the Constitutional and Legal Committee, while former Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Ghana, Reverend Dr Samuel Asante-Antwi maintains his position as Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee.

Ghana's former Ambassador to Togo, Kwabena Mensah Bonsu has been made the Chairman of the Research Committee while former Chief of Staff, Kwadwo Okyere Mpiani is now Chairman of the Finance Committee, with former National Chairman of the NPP, Peter Mac Manu now Chairman of the Organisation Committee.

By Charles Takyi-Boadu