NDP begins process to elect, outdoor flagbearer

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Democratic Party (NDP) will meet today to confirm the date for its national conference.

The NEC will also affirm the preparations made so far for the conference such as the election of national officers and outdooring of its flagbearer for the 2020 Presidential Elections.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the General Secretary of the NDP, Alhaji Mohammed Frimpong, revealed that the search for its flagbearer began in 2016 and its shortlist would be whittled down from three personalities today at its headquarters in Accra.

He said the 12-member NEC of the party would conclude the selection process which has been preceded by consultations across the 16 regions of the country.

Shortlist

On the shortlist is Dr Kwame Opoku, a medical doctor, Nana Osei-Mensah Bonsu, an immigration lawyer and a former First Lady and founder of the NDP, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.

"We have met all the statutory requirements of the Electoral Commission in terms of organising regional congresses. We have finished the last one in the Ashanti Region which was on the sixth of August," Alhaji Frimpong said in an interview with the Daily Graphic.

"The date for the national congress will crystallise tomorrow when the NEC meets to select a flagbearer. Some of the candidates are new but some are iconic such as the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings. This was a democratic process. We opened nominations and we have two other persons on the shortlist. One is abroad, one Dr Kwame Opoku, a medical doctor, and Nana Osei-Mensah Bonsu who has come down but is an immigration lawyer based in Ghana."

He further disclosed that the party flagbearer would be unveiled at its two-day national congress later this month.

Campaign

Alhaji Frimpong said in adherence with COVID-19 prevention protocols, the party would largely be employing the use of social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook as well as the electronic media to market its policies to prospective voters across the country.

He said the party manifesto, which is yet to be published, would be centred on safeguarding the Fourth Republic and decentralisation of governance.

"The Fourth Republic must have in-built structures that will cause participatory democracy. The constitution speaks about decentralising the administration and the financial machinery of government to the nooks and crannies so that people can take part in the decision-making processes in the country.”

"We intend to decentralise by structures which we call Community Organisation Bureaus (COBs). These COB's will drive the unit committees which have virtually become stillborn. We can’t find them in our communities and they are not playing their roles in terms of sanitation and security,” he said.- #GhanaVotes2020#