Tension Mounts In NPP Over Parliamentary Primaries

Tension seems to be mounting in the opposition New Patriot Party (NPP) over the party’s parliamentary primaries. Citi News understands that there is currently a National Steering Committee meeting underway at the party headquarters without the National Chairman, Paul Afoko and General Secretary Kwabena Agyepong.

Per the NPP constitution, it’s only the National Chairman who can call a Steering Committee meeting. Sources within the party office tell Citi News, the National Chairman is currently out of the country while the General Secretary is in Kumasi. Vetting in Greater Accra postponed In a related development, vetting of NPP Parliamentary aspirants of the Greater Accra Region has been postponed to Tuesday.

The Deputy Greater Accra Regional Secretary of the Party, Adams Sabo Abdul Rhaman in an interview with Citi News said that the party is hoping to get clearance after two isolated constituency court issues are cleared. “It’s as a result of some arrangement within the regional executive level; we’re supposed to have done it today.

There are some few constituencies that have issues to be ironed out in court, which include Ablekuma West and Krowor,” he said. “With Ablekuma West, we just received the letter a day ago and with that of Krowor, it was there but we thought everything had settled until this primary issue came up and they came back again. Beside these two constituencies the others are ready for the exercise.” He noted that barring any last minute hitches, about 32 constituencies out of the 34 in the Greater Accra region will “continue with the [vetting] process from Tomorrow.”

Brong Ahafo Region In the Brong Ahafo Region, the leadership of the party is hopeful to complete the vetting exercise within three days. About ninety aspirants are supposed to vetted in the Region. The party in the region begun the exercise on Monday ahead of the party’s primaries on June 13, 2015. Eastern Region Meanwhile vetting of aspirants in the Eastern Region will begin on Tuesday.

Regional Youth Organizer Jerry Osei Poku told Citi News the NPP in the Region will use only two days to vet the 89 aspirants. “In the Eastern Region we have decided to use two days for our vetting and it will take place at our campaign office in Koforidua.

At the close of filing on Thursday, 89 people have filed their nomination out of the 89 we have ten females and we have about 20 youth who have filed their nominations.” “Eight of the seats are being contested unopposed and these are Akim Swedru, Akim Akyease, Suhum, Okere, Akuapim South, Afram Plains North, Atiwa West and Upper Manya Constituencies. So far everything is on course,” added the regional youth organizer.