Displeased NPP supporters besiege party office over affirmative action

Graphic.com.gh Politics Mar - 24 - 2015 , 15:06 2 minutes read

Some members of opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) stormed the party's headquarters Tuesday afternoon, protesting new proposals and guidelines for the upcoming parliamentary primaries slated for May 24, 2015.

In what appeared to be a statement protesting an approved policy on affirmative action to protect and ensure that more female parliamentary aspirants were encouraged, the displeased supporters besieged the party headquarters.

Wearing red armbands, the supporters demanded that the party rescinds its decision to implement the policy.

At a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Monday, the party adopted a proposal for only female aspirants to contest the 16 female Members of Parliament in their respective constituencies.

The move, according to the party was to protect and ensure that more female parliamentarians were enrolled into the system.

However the move has ruffled feathers in and outside the party with some criticizing the policy as a “disaster” and “recipe for defeat”.

Some party members and political analysts have said there was an element of political risk to reserve the 16 seats for the women.

Even though aspirants like former Asokwa MP, Mr Maxwell Kofi who was defeated by Madam Patricia Appiagyei for the Asokwa seat in 2012 would have loved to contest again, the new move by the party would bar him.

Mr Jumah himself has praised the affirmative move and resigned not to contest the seat again but Mr Abdullah Bonsu in the Awutu-Senya constituency in the Central region has kicked against the plan.

Filing fees for female parliamentary aspirants have also been slashed by 50 per cent in order to reduce the financial burden on them.

Speaking to Accra based Joy FM early on, the Director of NPP Communications Nana Akomea policy was just a proposal and would not be forced down the throats of anybody.

He said men who wish to contest seats held by female NPP MPs would be encouraged to step down but if they wish to contest, they would not be barred.