PNC: Four to contest for flagbearer slot

The People's National Convention (PNC) will today (August 18) finalise modalities for the election of its national executives and flagbearer ahead of the 2020 elections.

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PNC which comprises regional secretaries, regional chairmen, all national executives, nominees of the party leadership and founding members of the party will decide among others how much will be paid in filing fees by flagbearer hopefuls at the meeting scheduled for the University of Development Studies (UDS) Guest House Conference Hall in Accra.

Also on the agenda of the meeting will be the dates for the opening of nominations, regional elections, vetting of all aspirants and a time-table for its activities leading up to the 2020 Elections.

PNC is not late

Reacting to concerns that the party was in a race against time with regards to naming its flagbearer, the PNC Chairman, Mr Bernard Mornah said the party's timing was not a novelty in the history of Ghanaian politics.

"Tomorrow, we are hopeful that we will be able to set a date for our national delegates congress taking into cognisance that regional congresses will have to be done before," Mr Mornah said in an interview with the GraphicOnline.

"I keep insisting that, there is nothing like we are late. In 2012, for instance, President Atta Mills died on the 24th of July, It took us nearly a month to perform his funeral. The NDC after that still went ahead to do their primaries and John Mahama came out and won the Presidential elections in barely two months".

He said the National Delegates Conference of the party has been fixed tentatively for September 26th by which time all regional and constituency conferences would have been completed.

Proposals

He said the NEC would also consider a proposal for the National Delegates Conference to be held simultaneously in the 16 regional capitals of the country in compliance with COVID-19 prevention protocols.

"Our national delegates are nearly about 4,200 persons and the COVID protocols will not permit a gathering of that number and so we are going to propose at the NEC that we decentralise the National Delegates Conference so that it will take place in the 16 regional capitals of our country in a simple process".

Flagbearer race

Mr Mornah also disclosed that five persons have indicated their readiness to contest for the PNC flagbearer slot. They include Reverend Samuel Adjei-Debrah, Mr Aasaki Samson Awingobit, Mr Emmanuel Anyidoho, a vice presidential running mate of the party in 2016, and former PNC Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, Mr David Apasara.

He said Professor George Agbango, who is based in the United States had fallen-out because of the restrictions on travel which have been imposed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Other National Executive Positions

Mr Mornah also disclosed that there are a total of 23 roles which will be vied for at the National Delegates Conference of the party.

The roles which are for substantive officers and their deputies including National Chairman and three vice chairmen, General Secretary and two deputies, National Treasurer and two deputies, Communications Secretary and two deputies, Women's Organiser and a Youth Organiser.