A youth group in the ruling National Democratic Congress known as the Coalition for the Protection of Genuine and Credible NDC Parliamentary Aspirants , has admonished the leadership of the party to without fear or favour approve for voting very “credible and genuine Parliamentary candidates.” According to the convenor of the group, Koku Mawuli Nanegbe, this will ensure the party doesn’t “play into the hands of a mischievous opposition that will stop at nothing to win power.”
The NDC has made history by being the first country in Africa to expand its electoral college to allow for all members at the grassroots level to vote in the parliamentary and presidential primaries. This novelty which is an improvement of the concept of the largest opposition New Patriotic Party’s, is a far departure from previous elections where only the delegates made up of constituency, regional and national executives are camped to vote for new candidates.
But in a statement commending the vetting committee for a yeoman’s job towards ensuring that the best out of the lot were cleared to contest the November 7th presidential and parliamentary primaries, the group urged them to finish off on a good note and not be cowed into approving those with questionable character.
“As the Vetting Committee works hard to round up its work, particularly on aspirants who have their processes suspended because of issues, of which some borders on criminality, patriotism, irresponsibility etc, the Coalition wishes to urge that a -beyond-thorough job is done on them, not in any way doubting the competencies of the Vetting Committee.”
The statement also called for an investigative body to be set up in future to deal with issues bordering on the competencies and criminalities of aspirants before they face the vetting committee.
“The coalition is of the humble view too that for future processes, aspirants who have questions to answer on criminal, patriotism, lawfulness, responsible citizenship matters must have themselves earlier facing an investigating Committee and to have them first cleared before appearing at the Vetting Committee, a process that will be a coronation exercise. It is the view of the Coalition that aspirants who have questionable records wouldn’t get an opportunity to appear before the Vetting Committee, that largely have highly respected persons.”
The Coalition for the Protection of Genuine and Credible NDC Parliamentary Aspirants, also congratulated the aspirants who have been cleared and “given the green light to contest the upcoming Parliamentary primaries across the country.”
