NPP Retains National Council Members
Kwadwo Mpiani
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) virtually retained all the contentious members of the National Council during the party's emergency conferences held in all the 10 regions, except one.
The Volta Regional election had been postponed to Wednesday for some unexplained reasons.
The regional political exercise, which was undertaken to elect representatives to serve on the National Council – the second largest decision making body of the party after congress – was done by popular acclamation.
A former NPP Constituency Chairman for Central Tongu in the Volta Region, David Hoezame, had filed a suit at an Accra High Court challenging the current composition of the National Council, thereby necessitating the holding of the elections at the weekend.
In the Ashanti Region, all the previous members were returned except Kwadwo Okyere Mpiani, former Chief of Staff, who did not pick nomination form, losing his position on the Council.
Unconfirmed report said Mr. Mpiani might be made to chair the Council of Elders if it was reconstituted, but may meet a stiff opposition since some party people thought they needed the wisdom of people like CK Tedam, the current chairman of the Council.
Dr. Kwame Amoako-Tuffuor was maintained after he was re-elected in an acclamation by members of the party in the Ashanti Region.
He had earlier alleged that some persons wanted him out of the party's Council due to his open support for Nana Akufo-Addo – one of the aspirants of the party's flagbearership slot.
The elected members included five regional executives - the Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako; Samuel Payne; Dr. Alhaji Raul Abdul; Beatrice Serwaa Daakyi and Zenab Saliu.
The non-executive members who were also elected were Dr. Kwame Amoako-Tuffuor; Kwame Osei Prempeh; Janet Anane and Robert Yaw Amankwah.
Northern Region
Chairman Wontumi in a handsahke with the new members
The Regional Council of Elders of the party by popular acclamation on Saturday endorsed the seven persons appointed to represent the Northern Region on the National Council.
They were Daniel Bugri Naabu, regional chairman; Hajia Samata Gifty Bukari; Alhaji Sunday; Wiston Binabiba; Sule Salifu; Hajia Salamatu Forgor, former DCE for Bole and Alhaji Aminu Amadu.
All seven were unanimously endorsed without a dissenting vote by the leadership of the party from the 31 constituencies in the special delegates' conference.
Per the constitution, four are mandated to be regional executives while three are to be non-executive members.
The National Women's Organiser of the NPP, Otiko Afisa Djaba, who administered the Oath of Office to the new National Council Members, emphasised the need for unity within the various ranks of the party towards its bid for victory in 2016.
According to her, divisions within the party were a recipe for self-destruction, and therefore urged members to build bridges of trust among themselves and forge ahead in unity.
The party's Regional Director of Communications, Mohammed Abdul-Kudus, disclosed to DAILY GUIDE that the nomination and swearing-in of the seven would be the curtain raiser to the party's campaign activities towards election 2016.
He said he was optimistic that the party would get over the current issues of disunity, stating it was a demonstration of democracy.
Upper East
In the Upper East Region, delegates from the 15 constituencies yesterday unanimously confirmed some three persons to represent the region on the National Council.
The three were former Member of Parliament for Navrongo Central and one-time Minister of Energy, Joseph Kofi Adda; former Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, Rockson Ayine Bukari and Sule Yirimea, former National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) deputy coordinator.
The Electoral Commission did not organise polls, but rather asked the delegates whether they wanted the three persons to represent the region on the National Council, since they were the only people who returned their nomination forms by the close of filing of nominations on Saturday June 29, 2014.
Present at the event were the National Nasara Coordinator, Kamal-Din Abdallah and the MP for Talensi, Robert Mosore.
Brong-Ahafo Region:
Steve Ntim, former National Vice Chairman; Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi; former MP for Techiman North, Paul Okoh; former MP for Asutifi North,
Ama Amponsah; Alfred Ofori Ali Maiga and Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, Regional Chairman representing the Regional Executives.
Greater Accra Region:
Shirley Ayokor Botchwey, MP for Anyaa Sowutuom; Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson, former Accra Mayor; Prof Mike Oquaye, former MP for Dome Kwabenya; Divine Agorhom, NPP parliamentary candidate for Sege in the 2012 election , with Okyere; Adjei Sowah; Alfred Boye and Ishmael Ashietey, Regional Chairman for the Regional Executives.
Upper West:
Alhaji Bin Salih Bright Baligi and Alhaji Short, Regional Chairman.
Central Region
Elected its representatives on Friday and include Kwamena Bartels, former Interior Minister; Nana Awuku of Sanaa Lodge; Kwaku Asiamah; Kwamena Duncan, Regional Secretary and Robert Kutin, Regional Chairman.
Eastern Region:
Apeatu Ankrah; Nana Fredua Ofori, Vice Chairman; Prince Aboagye, Regional Secretary; Kingston Akomeng Kissi, Regional Chairman; Yaw Osafo-Maafo, former MP for Oda; Paa Kofi Ansong; Kofi Lartey, former Chairman for Fanteakwa and Madam Dufie Dedu Kusi, former parliamentary candidate for Manya Krobo, representing the non-executives.
Western Region:
Non-officers are Mr. Franketh; Joseph Aidoo, former Western Regional Minister; Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, former Health Minister; Kofi Atta Dickson Nketia, aka Kendicks, Regional Chairman; Lawyer Charles Bissue, Secretary and Mr. Ndedesiah for the executives.
From Stephen Zoure, Tamale & Ebo Bruce-Quansah, Navrongo