Vetting of NPP flagbearer aspirants ends Friday

The New Patriotic Party has finished vetting all seven aspiring flagbearers in Accra Friday.

The 2012 flagbearer of the party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, a former Trade Minister, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, Member of Parliament for Mampong, Francis Addai Nimo as well as Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, a former MP for Offinso took turns before the vetting committee Thursday.

Today, a former Information Minister, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Joe Ghartey, MP for Essikado-Ketan and Asuogyaman MP, Osei Ameyaw also appeared to be vetted.

The Super Delegates' Congress has been scheduled for August 31, 2014. It is aimed at cutting down the number of aspirants to five.

A member of the Vetting Committee, Peter Mac Manu told Joy News they were yet to submit a report to the party's Steering Committee in order to take a final decision.

Mr. Asamoah Boateng believed he had done well to be in the race and would focus on fostering unity within the party to win the 2016 presidential election.

He noted even though the race would be keenly contested, God would see him through.

Meanwhile, the impending National Delegates' Congress to elect a new flagbearer has been thrown into limbo following a suit filed against the party and its chairman.

David Hoezame, a card bearing member of the party is seeking three reliefs including a restraining order to stop the party from going ahead with the vetting of seven aspirants vying to lead the party in 2016.

The member, had only last month, gone to court to protest the regional elections conducted by the party, elections which he said were hurriedly organised.

He has now amended his writ and is asking the court to restrain the party from proceeding with the Special Delegates' Congress.

The former Chairman of the Central Tongu Constituency in the Volta Region is also asking the court to restrain the party from organising the presidential primaries slated for October 18, 2014.

His plea is that the composition of a new National Council of the party to superintend over the vetting, Special Delegates' Congress and the party's primaries was wrongly constituted and illegal.

In a 28 point affidavits filed by lawyers of Hoezame, a copy of which has been intercepted by Joy News, the plaintiff insists that on 16 July, 2014 the illegally constituted National Council further violated the party's constitution by scheduling 18th October, 2014 as date for the election of the party's presidential candidates.

"The behavior of the defendants has put the entire New Patriotic Party into disarray.

"If the Status quo is not restored within the New Patriotic Party, the party will disintegrate  and the Republic of Ghana may suffer for want of a viable alternative to the ruling party towards national development.

"If that happens, I will not have done my duty as a member of the New Patriotic Party..." the affidavits held.

Having concluded the vetting of the presidential aspirants it remained to be seen what the plaintiff would ask for in respect of restraining order on the vetting process.

The case will be heard on Tuesday August 12.