NPP National Executive to determine Effah-Dartey's fate on Friday

The National Executive of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) would on Friday December 7, 2007 determine whether Captain Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey (rtd), one of the party's presidential aspirants, would be allowed to contest at the Delegates Congress.

Addressing a rally at Kasoa to introduce 17 aspirants seeking to replace President John Agyekum Kufuor on Sunday, the Chairman of the Party, Mr Peter Mac-Manu said Capt. Effah-Dartey had petitioned against the decision of the Vetting Committee to exclude him because he was once found guilty of treason.

As early as 0600 hours on Sunday, busloads of supporters of the 17 aspirants began arriving at Kasoa, which had been virtually covered with posters.

The supporters danced and sang praises of the aspirants. Large banners of some of the aspirants were hung across some streets.

Traffic was very heavy. Food and ice water sellers did brisk business and so were those selling party paraphernalia.

By 1200 noon the rally grounds was full of party members. The Police had hectic time controlling the teeming crowd that surged to take a glimpse of the aspirants as they arrived.

Each of the 17 aspirants was given five minutes to address the rally with many of them pledging to support whoever emerged the winner.

The first to speak was Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the last was Mr Kwabena Agyapong.

The others were Mr Boakye Agyarko; Professor Mike Oquaye; Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku; Papa Owusu Ankomah; Dr Baffour Adjei-Barwuah; Mr John Alan Kyerematen; Professor Frimpong Boateng; Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor and Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo.

The rest were Mr Dan Botwe; Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong; Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey; Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang; Dr Arthur Kennedy and Vice President Aliu Mahama.