The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has released the timetable for its presidential and parliamentary elections in readiness for the 2024 general election, with November 4, 2023 as the date for its national congress after a marathon meeting on Monday.
The timelines for the NPP’s presidential and parliamentary primaries ahead of the general election were agreed by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Council meetings.
According to a statement released and signed by the ruling party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, the opening of nominations is planned for May 26, 2023, with the closing of nominations on June 24, 2023.
The statement suggested that, if any, Special Electoral College Elections would be conducted on August 26, 2023 to narrow the field of candidates to two.
Parliamentary Primaries
Concerning the parliamentary primaries, the party stated that nominations would be opened on June 6, 2023 and concluded on July 14, 2023 in orphan constituencies (those in which the NPP has no sitting Members of Parliament).
The statement also revealed that elections in the said constituencies would begin on August 1, 2023, and would end on December 2, 2023, noting that constituencies with sitting MPs would have their turn starting on December 20, 2023, when nominations would be opened and closed on January 4, 2024.
It stated that parliamentary elections would be held on February 24, 2024, and that the National Council had also banned National, Regional, Constituency Party Executives, and MMDCEs from running in constituencies where the party has sitting MPs.
“The party has also approved detailed Rules and Regulations to govern the conduct of both the presidential and parliamentary primaries which would be made available to the public in due course,” the statement disclosed.
Who Leads?
As the party has set a date for its primaries, the floodgate has been opened for all forms of campaign, with key people to elect a presidential candidate, delegates, coming into focus.
They are made up of polling station executives, electoral area coordinators, constituency executives, regional executives, national executives and Members of Parliament among others.
A number of prospective candidates have indicated their interest in running for the flagbearership, either directly or through a surrogate.
They are Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, Kennedy Agyapong, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Kwabena Agyapong, and Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku.
Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen and Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto have both quit as Ministers of Trade and Industry and Food and Agriculture, respectively.
By Ernest Kofi Adu