NPP Vets Aspirants

First to appear before the nine-member Committee, chaired by Madam Ama Busia, was twice-defeated flagbearer hopeful, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen.

After almost two hours behind closed doors, Alan came out of the conference room at the party headquarters, Asylum Down in Accra, beaming with smiles.

One of the newest faces in the contest and Member of Parliament (MP) for Mampong, Francis Addai Nimoh, was next to be vetted by the Committee. The third candidate was former Offinso MP, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku.

Two-time flagbearer of the NPP, who is seeking a re-election, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was the last candidate to go through the process for the day.

He was mobbed on arrival by a handful of party faithful at the  headquarters.

Other members of the Vetting Committee were Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, Chairman of the party's Constitutional and Legal Committee; Kwadwo Okyere Mpiani, Chairman of the Finance Committee and Most Rev. Dr. Samuel Asante-Antwi, Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee.

The rest were C.K. Tedam, Chairman of the Council of Elders; Peter Mac Manu, Chairman of the Organisational Committee; Madam Christine Churcher, former MP for Cape Coast; Joseph Boahen Aidoo, former Western Regional Minister and Ambassador Kwabena Mensah Bonsu.

The remaining three aspirants, Second Deputy Speaker and MP for Essikado, Ketan, Joe Ghartey; former MP for Mfantseman West, Stephen Asamoah Boateng and MP for Asuogyaman, Kofi Osei Ameyaw, are also expected to go through the vetting process today.

Coming Events
The leadership of the party has set aside Monday, 4 August, 2014 for anyone who wishes to register any protest(s) against any of the aspirants to do so. This would be followed by a compilation of the delegates' register from the polling stations to the party's headquarters from Friday, August 11 to 16, 2014.

On August 12, 2014, all the seven aspirants would then ballot for positions on the ballot paper. This would pave way for a special mini delegates' conference to shortlist five candidates, out of the seven, on 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 flagbearer to lead the party 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 is made up of 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 officers and 75 Founding Members, with each of them having one vote.

By Charles Takyi-Boadu & Cephas Larbi