John Boadu
THE RULING New Patriotic Party (NPP) has constituted a nine-member National Elections Committee to organise and superintend all election-related processes of its national annual delegates’ conference to be held at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The committee, chaired by the party’s former National Chairman, Peter Manu, has Evans Nimako as Secretary and Ambassador Edward Boateng, Mawusi Nudekor Awity, Amin Anta, Alhaji Bismi Hussain, Kwesi Abease, Oboshie Sai Coffie, Gary Nimako, Eric Ntori and Emmanuel Darkwa as members.
The National Council of the NPP, at its last meeting held on May 12, 2022, constituted the committee as part of rules and regulations to guide the conduct of the party’s 2022 National Annual Delegates’ Conference, which shall, among other things, elect National Executive Officers of the NPP, between July 15 to 17, 2022.
The NPP, in a statement signed by the General Secretary, John Boadu, said the party’s national council, with reference to Article 10(2) of the NPP Constitution which provides that the party’s National Annual Delegates’ Conference shall meet to elect national officers, as well as Article 18 on guidelines for the operations of the party at all levels, approved the rules and regulations for the conduct of the elections.
According to the statement, among the rules and guidelines are that the national officers’ elections shall be conducted at a national annual delegates’ conference to be held from Friday, July 15, 2022 to Sunday, July 17, 2022, across the country.
“Pursuant to Section l7(2) of the Political Parties Law, Act 574, which provides that the election of National, Regional and Constituency Officers of every political party shall be conducted under the supervision of the Electoral Commission, the National Elections shall be supervised by the Electoral Commission of Ghana,” the statement noted.
It indicated that in line with Article 10(2)(3) of the NPP Constitution, the national annual delegates’ conference shall be attended by all members of the National Council; all members of the National Executive Committee; all members of the Regional Executive Committees; all members of the Constituency Executive Committees; and 15 members of the National Council of Elders.
The rest are 12 delegates from every External Branch; one TESCON representative from each of the recognised tertiary institutions in the country, 15 patrons elected from among themselves, founding members across the country, who are signatories to the registration documents of the party at the Electoral Commission; all party Members of Parliament; and all party members who are Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives.
There will also be the presence of at least one-third (1/3) of the delegates to the National Annual Delegates’ Conference who shall be necessary to constitute a quorum of the conference, the statement pointed out.
Officers Election
The statement said the National Officers Elections shall be conducted in accordance with the opening and closing of nominations between June 8 and 12, 2022, filing of nomination papers between June 13 and 15, 2022, vetting of aspirants between June 17 and 20, 2022, the release of vetting report on June 22, 2022, and hearing of appeals (if any) between June 24 and 25, 2022 (by National Appeals Committee).
The statement added that nomination forms shall be purchased by prospective candidates or their representatives, from the National Elections Committee, at the NPP Headquarters, within working hours, after the payment of non-refundable nomination fee.
Nomination Fee
It said the prospective National Chairperson is expected to pay a non-refundable fee of GH¢20,000; Vice Chairpersons to pay GH¢15,000; General Secretary – GH¢10,000; while all other positions will pay GH¢8,000.
Special Wings such as the Youth, Women and Nasara will all pay GH¢6,000, noting, “For the avoidance of doubt, the nomination fee shall be paid at the point of picking nomination forms.”
The statement assured that a prospective candidate shall not be denied access to procure nomination forms, and that “a prospective candidate shall be a registered voter and shall be required to produce his/her biometric voter ID Card issued by the Electoral Commission of Ghana.”
“A prospective candidate shall be a known and active member of the party in good standing for at least five (5) years. Good standing is demonstrated by active participation in party activities, payment of dues and demonstrable commitment to abiding by the constitution, and rules and regulations of the party.”
“A prospective candidate for any of the National Officers position shall be nominated by one (l) member of the party’s National Council and seconded by 20 known and active registered members of the party. All the seconders shall be in good standing,” the statement said.
The statement continued that three passport-sized photographs shall accompany each nomination form, and that the National Elections Committee shall be responsible for the vetting of all prospective candidates from June 17 to 20, 2022.
Appeals Committee
The statement indicated that disqualified or aggrieved aspirants/members of the party may petition the National Appeals Committee for redress from June 24 to 25, 2022.
It said the National Appeals Committee is constituted by five people and would be chaired by the Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Dan Botwe, with other members including Rev. S. K. Boafo, Dr. Clifford Braimah, Joyce Opoku Boateng, Kwadwo Afari, and Iddi Muhayu-Deen.
BY Ernest Kofi Adu