THE ELECTIONS Committee of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has indicated all is set for national executives’ elections slated for the Accra Sports Stadium from July 15–17, 2022.
According to the committee, six thousand, seven hundred and thirty (6,730) delegates, chosen from the 275 constituencies of the country, will be casting their ballots to determine the fate of 48 aspirants in the elections.
Seven party stalwarts namely, Stephen Ayesu Ntim (a five-time contestant), Stephen Asamoah Boateng (a first timer), George Kwabena Abankwa Yeboah (also a first timer), Prof Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi, Gifty Asantewa Ayeh (aka Daavi Ama), Sammy Crabbe and Akwasi Osei Adjei, will contest for the national chairmanship slot to produce a winner who will lead the party into the 2024 general election against the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). Initially, the contestants were eight but Lawyer Ayikoi Otoo has voluntarily chosen to bow out of the contest.
According to Evans Nimako, Director of Elections and Research, who doubles as the Secretary to the party’s National Elections Committee, the delegates will also vote to elect a new General Secretary among contestants such as John Boadu, Justin Kodua Frimpong, Iddrisu Musah popularly known as Musa Superior, Frederick Opare Ansah and Ramseyer Ahmed Agyeman Prempeh. The contest will be without Charles Bissue, who on Wednesday announced his exit from the race.
For the position of National Vice Chairpersons, ten persons namely Ishmael Yahuza, McJewells J. Annan, Danquah Smith Buttey, Rita Talata Asobayire, Edmund Oppong-Peprah, Kingston Akomeng Kissi, Derrick Kwaku Nkansah, Michael Omari Wadie, Ken-Wuud Nuworsu, and Alhaji Masahudu Osman will be competing, while for the National Organiser position, six persons – Bright Essilfie-Kumi, Seth Adu Adjei, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover, Eric Amoako Twum, Henry Nana Boakye (aka Nana B) and also Nana Owusu Fordjour – will compete.
The Women’s Organiser slot has three contestants namely Kate Gyamfua (the incumbent), Ellen Ama-Daaku and Hajia Sawudatu Saeed. Delegates will choose who among these take the honourable place.
For the Youth Organiser position, four persons – Abanga Fuseini Yakubu, Salaam Mohammed Mustapha, Prince Kamal Guma and Michael Osei Boateng – will vie as seven contestants – Haruna Maiga, Abdul Rahman Diallo, Isaka Muaza Kunata, Awal Mohammed, Sulemana Alhassan Atakpo, Abdul Aziz Haruna Futa and Haruna Ismael – will run for the National Nasara position.
The activity will be supervised by the Electoral Commission of Ghana.
Peter Mac Manu, Chairman of the NPP’s National Elections Committee, has stated that the party will not countenance any act of bribery and vote-buying from contestants. He has therefore arranged with the Ghana Police Service to ensure that the process comes off peacefully.
BY Ebenezer K. Amponsah