John Boadu
The ruling New Patriotic Party has banned all activities associated with internal party contests, parliamentary and presidential primaries as well as the display of paraphernalia and advocacy for individual aspirants at the upcoming National Annual Delegates Conference to be held in Kumasi.
This follows a decision taken after a meeting held on Thursday 9th December 2021, by the National Steering Committee of the Party under Article 10 (10) (1) of the Constitution of the Party and in furtherance of the Code of Conduct issued under Article 18 which regulates and guides the activities of members before the opening of nominations, that has forced the party to ban all activities in advocacy for individual aspirants.
NPP Spokesperson, Yaw Buabeng Asamoah explained in a statement that “Before and during the Conference on 18th to 20th December 2021, no billboards and or signboards, banners or any kind of outdoor signage with the images and or names of individual members, with or without the consent of the individual, shall be acceptable. This applies to the area within the Greater Kumasi Metropolis. All such displays, if put up already, should be removed”.
The party also warned that no t-shirts, flyers, brochures, and or souvenirs, branded and or embossed with the portraits and names of individuals, shall be allowed within the precincts of the Conference, including but not limited to places of accommodation for delegates.
“Any person, with or without their consent, whose image is flaunted on any advocacy material and who does not take active steps to desist from any public displays of aspiration for a position within the precincts of Greater Kumasi, runs a higher risk of disqualification in the event nominations are declared opened,” the party stated.
The statement explained further that “the 2021 National Annual Delegates’ Conference is a time of renewal for the Party. Though we cherish the Party tradition of democratic competition, we believe well-meaning aspirants will appreciate the need for such measures, which are necessary to enable a clear focus on the aims of the Conference”.
“The true spirit behind the Conference is to enhance party unity around the singular effort of working closely with Ghanaians as we recover from Covid-19 and rebuild our economy in new ways to feed into a future of shared growth. The Party will also be focused on dealing with constitutional amendments proposed by members”.
“The Conference represents the end of a five-month-long, but fruitful process. Starting in August 2021 under strict Covid-19 protocols, 275 Constituency Annual Delegates’ Conferences and 16 Regional Annual Delegates’ Conferences have been held, bringing together nearly 300,000 people, a feat unequaled in this era of Covid-19” the statement added.
The party noted that “In response to enhanced protocols due to the fourth wave of Covid-19, attendees to the National Conference, are advised to take jabs of vaccine immediately, wherever they may find themselves”.
“The Party is humbly requesting the Ghana Health Service to publish a list of places where shots of vaccine can be received for party members to take jabs before the Conference date”.
“There will also be medical personnel at the Conference venue to support compliance with the Protocols. All must carry their vaccination cards with them” the statement said.
BY Daniel Bampoe