Stephen Ntim
Aspiring presidential hopefuls of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) may soon heave a sigh of relief as the party takes a decision on the dates for electing a flagbearer for the 2024 election.
According impeccable sources, barring any last minute hiccups, the leadership of the NPP will take a decision on the dates for the election of the flagbearer and parliamentary candidates for the party today.
DAILY GUIDE learnt that, the second highest decision making body of the party, the National Council is meeting today, Monday, April 3, 2023 to finalise on the dates.
The council had met twice without reaching a consensus, calling for more extensive consultations.
But, after the consultations and what others suggested to be foot dragging to pander to the whims and caprices of the presidency, the party is set to announce the date for the opening of nominations as well as dates for the primary and super delegates conference if there are more than five aspirants.
The super delegates conference will prune down the number to five to face the over 200,000 national delegates.
As it stands now, about nine or more aspirants have shown interest to lead the party to break the eight-year invincibility power cycle.
Some of the leading contenders are Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, Assin Central MP, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong and former Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen.
Sources said the party may open nominations for presidential primary between May/June and elect a flagbearer by December 2023.
Those who are calling for same day election of presidential and parliamentary candidates may be disappointed as their wishes may not be actualized, as the party elects the parliamentary candidates in 2024, the election year, to satisfy Jubilee House.
Some of the aspirants have been on the neck of the party national officers calling for early Congress.
However, the December date, if its settled on, will assuage Jubilee House as well as the aspirants who are longing for dates to draw out their timetable and programmes for their campaigns.
The presidency had been in a dilemma as to the effect of early Congress on government business, especially with the hung parliament. There is also fear that government business will suffer more since attention will be drawn to the new leader, rendering the occupant of Jubilee House orphan.
After the Monday meeting, the National Chairman, Stephen Ayesu Ntim, will hold a press conference to communicate the council decisions to the party and the public.
Both the National Council meeting and the press conference will be held at Alisa Hotel, North Ridge, Accra.
By Fortune Kwame Alimi