Total of 98 aspirants have been cleared to contest the National Democratic Congress (NDC) national executive elections.
The party's vetting committee disqualified 23 others.
The Spokesperson for the Congress Elections Committee, Dr Peter Boamah Otokunor, announced the outcome of the vetting at a press briefing last Thursday evening at the Rawlings House, the party's headquarters in Accra.
The briefing followed the vetting and balloting of candidates. He said 121 aspirants were vetted and one was absent.
Chairmanship race
Four aspirants are in the race for national chairman. They are National Vice-Chairman Sofo Azorka, former Local Government Minister Akwasi Oppong-Fosu, former Greater Accra Regional Minister Nii Armah Ashietey, and former Odododiodio Member of Parliament, Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye.
Five officers will not face a contest. They include incumbent General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey; Joseph Yammin, who is running for National Organiser, and Godwin Ako-Gunn, who is standing for Communications Officer.
The other two are the Deputy Women's Organisers. Two slots are open for that position and only two of four nominees qualified, so both stand elected after vetting.
All of them are awaiting swearing-in at Congress.
For the National Executive Committee, 53 people picked up forms and 49 filed. Thirty-two were cleared to contest and 16 were disqualified.
Four aspirants filed for National Youth Organiser, and two were cleared while two were disqualified. For Deputy National Youth Organiser, seven picked up forms and six filed.
All six were cleared.
Dr Otokunor said the disqualifications followed the party's constitution and the guidelines that interpret it.
Almost all of those removed failed a prerequisite the constitution set for national executive aspirants, he said.
Appeals window, campaign rules
Aggrieved aspirants have two days to appeal to an Appeals Committee. If it finds a candidate was wrongly disqualified, it will make its decision public and the candidate will go on the ballot.
Dr Otokunor said one aspirant never completed the filing process and so never reached the vetting committee.
Cleared candidates can now campaign across the country, with delegate lists provided.
Dr Otokunor urged a free and fair campaign without insults, attacks or mudslinging.
He said billboards, banners and posters were governed by party guidelines in keeping with the principle of modesty, and the party was "watching very closely".
“Compliance so far had been encouraging,” he said.
Nominations ran from November 7 to 9. of the 138 who initially picked up forms, 121 filed. Vetting began on November 11 for 14 national executive positions.
The Youth and Women's Wing elections are set for December 13 and 14, respectively, with the main executive votes, comprising the positions of the National Chairman, General Secretary, National Vice-Chairman, National Communications Officer, the National Organiser and the National Treasurer, expected at the Ninth Delegates Congress scheduled for December 19.
The party has barred government appointees from contesting executive posts unless they resign.
