Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Alan Kyerematen
The cast of New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential contenders for 2024 seems largely set, as the party begins vetting of applicants today, Monday July 3, 2023, with Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen on the first schedule.
Mr. Keyerematen, the former Trade and Industry Minister, will first appear before the nine-member vetting committee, which will be chaired by Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, the former Speaker of Parliament.
As part of the NPP’s presidential-nomination process, the committee will look into the aspirants’ competence, qualifications, and contributions to the party.
Mr. Kyerematen will be followed by energy specialist Kwadwo Poku before Dr. Bawumia takes his turn on the hot seat of grilling, according to Evans Nimako, Secretary to the Vetting Committee.
On Tuesday, he indicated, it will be the turn of Boakye Kyeremanteng Agyarko, Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, and Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.
Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and Joe Ghartey will take their turns with the vetting committee on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, while Francis Addai-Nomoh will take his time on Thursday, July 6, 2023.
Background
Last week, the General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Kodua Frimpong, inaugurated the party’s vetting committee for the party’s presidential primary election with the charge to the members to uphold the party’s constitution and ensure a free, fair and transparent vetting process.
The National Steering Committee on behalf of the NPP’s National Council appointed the members of the committee in accordance with Article 10(3) (F) (ii) of the party’s constitution.
Members of the Vetting Committee are Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, Kwasi Amoako-Atta, Minister for Roads and Highways; Osei Bonsu Amoah, Minister of State at the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development; Stephen Abankwa Sekyere; Lord Oblitey Commey; Frank Davis; Rita Talata Asobayire; Hackman Owusu-Agyeman; and Adelaide Ahwireng.
The party also appointed Evans Nimako, Director for Research and Elections of the party, as Secretary to the Vetting Committee, while Mr. O.B. Amoah will be the Committee’s Spokesperson.
The NPP ended nominations on June 24, 2023, after ten aspirants successfully filed nomination papers, but one of the applicants for the flagbearership, Nana Oppong Odeneho, dropped out.
Before declaring his decision to withdraw from the contest to the NPP Election Committee, he had been voted down in the opinion of many.
The party opened nominations on May 26, 2023 and set June 24, 2023 as the final day for the official filing of nomination for all prospective candidates.
Each of the aspirants paid GH¢300,000 as nomination fees in addition to meeting other requirements outlined by the party, after having paid GH¢50,000 each for the nomination forms.
According to the schedule, the report of the Vetting Committee will be sent to the National Council through the General Secretary on Monday, July 10, 2023.
The party is expected to publish the vetting report at its Steering Committee meeting the following day, and that petitions, if any, would be sent to the National Presidential Appeals Committee (NPAC) between July 12 and 14, 2023.
The party said the NPAC would sit from Monday, July 17 to Tuesday, July 18, 2023, and the National Council and NEC would meet on July 20th, 2023, before the list of qualified presidential hopefuls is published on Friday, July 21, 2023.
Balloting for positions on the ballot paper will take place on July 24, 2023, followed by the publishing of the first notice of poll on July 25, 2023, and the national congress by the Special Electoral College on August 26, 2023.
Report on the conduct of the Special Electoral College to the National Council through the General Secretary will be done on August 28, 2023, whereas fresh balloting of the final five qualified candidates will take place on August 30, 2023.
Publication of the final notice of poll is scheduled for August 31, 2023, with the final congress set to come off Saturday, November 4, 2023 and run off, if any, on November 11, 2023.
By Ernest Kofi Adu