NPP ready for June 15 conference to elect new national officers

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has expressed its readiness to successfully undertake its 2018 national annual delegates conference scheduled for Koforidua, Eastern Region from June 15 to 17, 2018.

The conference shall, among other things, elect national officers who would steer the affairs of the party for the next four years.

Addressing a press conference on guidelines for the impending conference at the party’s headquarters in Accra, Monday, April 30, 2018, the acting General Secretary of the party, Mr John Boadu said on the national scale, it was gratifying to note that, “out of the 275 constituencies in the country, the NPP has been able to successfully hold Constituency Annual Delegates Conferences in 271 constituencies constituting 98.5 per cent.”

“Having said that, the party wishes to use this opportunity to acknowledge the maturity with which members of our great party and all stakeholders approached the conduct of these annual delegates’ conferences which started from the polling station level to electoral area to constituency and now, regional level. The conferences, as all would attest to, were largely successful,” he said.

Mr Boadu, in that same vein, expressed the party’s appeal to all stakeholders particularly the prospective candidates for the various national executive positions in the upcoming delegates’ conference and their supporters to respect the rules of engagement and conduct the exercise with the necessary candour.

The conference

Throwing more light on the conference, Mr Boadu said it would be attended by Members of the National Council, Members of the National Executive Committee, all members of the Regional Executive Committee, all members of the Constituency Executive Committee, and Fifteen (15) members of the National Council of Elders.

The others are twelve (12) delegates from every external branch as defined under Article 8 (2) of the Party’s Constitution, one (1) TESCON member, which could be the president or his/her designated representative from each of the recognized tertiary institution in the country, fifteen (15) Patrons elected from among themselves,

Founding Members across the country who are signatories to the registration documents of the Party at the Electoral Commission, all NPP Members of Parliament in the Region; and, all Party Members who are Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).

According to Mr John Boadu and in line with the constitution of the party, the presence of at least one-third of the delegates to the National Annual Delegates Conference shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the conference.

National Elections Committee

He also announced that five members had been so appointed to constitute the National Elections Committee.

They are Reverend Asante Antwi, Chairman appointed by the National Executive Committee, and the following as members.

Mr Hackman Owusu Agyemang, appointed by the National Executive Committee, Mrs Ursula Owusu Ekufful, appointed by the National Executive Committee, Madam Agness Okudzeto, appointed by the National Council of Elders, with the acting Director of Research and Elections, Mr Evans Nimako as Secretary to the committee.

According to Mr Boadu, the National Elections Committee would be responsible for the vetting of all prospective candidates and that nomination would be opened from Thursday May 3 to Thursday May 10, 2018.

He added that the application forms ought to be accurately filled and submitted to the National Elections Committee not later than Tuesday May 15, 2018 and that vetting would be held from Thursday May 17 to Thursday May 24, 2018 with its report to be released not later than Monday, May 28, 2018.

Mr Boadu cautioned that an applicant who was dissatisfied with the petting processes may appeal to the National Council of Elders within three days for immediate redress and the decision of the National Council of Elders would be final.

“For the avoidance of doubt, no Applicant shall proceed to court in respect of any matter touching on this election until he/she has exhausted the internal party mechanism for resolving disputes in accordance with Article 4 (6) of the Party’s Constitution.”

“Any prospective candidate who violates Regulation 11 and for that matter Article 4 of the party constitution shall be barred from contesting for any position in the national elections,” the statement said.

Filing fees

Mr Boadu further announced that the application fee to be paid by prospective applicants for the position of the National Chairperson was Ten Thousand Ghana cedis (GHC10,000.00), Vice Chairperson - Eight Thousand Ghana cedis (GHC8,000.00), General Secretary - Six Thousand Ghana cedis (GHC6,000.00)

He said all other positions apart from the Special Organs - Five Thousand Ghana cedis (GHC5,000.00) while the Special Organs of Youth, Women and Nasara would each attract Three Thousand Ghana cedis (GHC3,000.00).

Writer’s email: victor.kwawukume@graphic.com.gh