A leaked audio of a meeting of NPP executives is causing confusion among party members in the Atwima Nwabiagya Constituency.
The leaked audio which is confirmed to be a recording of a meeting between the Atwima Nwabiagya North constituency Executives and polling station Executives has already gone viral on social media and has received attention from some radio stations in the region.
In the audio, the polling station Executives were being asked to sign an endorsement form presented to them to allow the incumbent MP; Benito Owusu Bio to contest unopposed in the party’s parliamentary primaries in order to pave way for him to remain MP for another term.
An executive was heard in the audio saying this exercise is being done everywhere in the country as according to him the majority leader in Parliament and Member of Parliament for Suame constituency, Hon Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu is also on the same agenda to go unopposed.
During the meeting which was held Sunday 24th March, 2019 at the Adankwame electoral area, a voice suspected to be that of the first vice chairman of the constituency and also chairman of the meeting; Frank Sarkodie was heard asking the polling executives to just sign the endorsement form for a reward. He said the MP had promised them something and all they needed to do was to endorse him.
Bearing in mind the nearness of the party’s parliamentary primaries, many members of the party are not smiling about the content of the audio. They contest that such a plot slaps Article 11 of the NPP Constitution in the face.
On Monday 18th March, 2019, a group calling itself the Concerned Youth of Atwima Nwabiagya North smelling a rat, came out to condemn attempts by constituency Executives to cause the incumbent MP to contest the Primaries unopposed. They insisted that it is unconstitutional.
The group alluded to a series of meetings involving the Polling station executives that discussed how to prevent any other person from contesting the MP.
The Concerned Youth reveal that the plan is to circulate endorsement forms to all polling station executives to sign considering the fact that they only need Starting from first week of April, the constituency executives will send an endorsement forms to all the polling station executives to sign as they only need 40% and above to keep the MP.
Concern youth of Awima Nwabiagya North believes this is totally against the party’s constitution and must be condemned. They vowed to resist any attempt to force them to endorse Benito Bio because “he is not the only competent person in the party”.
Meanwhile Constituency Youth Organizer for the area; Prince Appiagyei has endorsed the contents of the audio saying the Executives are indeed going to ensure the endorsement of the MP because they are very happy about his delivery so far. He says they do not need a new person who will have to begin from scratch hence their decision to push the MP whose performance they know and are satisfied with.
Already, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has issued a directive to all prospective MP aspirants to stop campaigning.
The party said parliamentary aspirants can only canvass for votes at a time the party approves, but until then, all campaigns in that regard should cease.
The General Secretary John Boadu in a statement on Monday, November 12, 2018 said the “caution has become necessary following complaints the party has been receiving about the conduct of some prospective parliamentary aspirants who are overtly and covertly campaigning to delegates ahead of the opening of nominations.”
The statement added “The conduct of these persons does not only flout the party’s internal regulations but also undermines the very structures of the party, particularly at the constituency levels and regional levels.”
He also cautioned that parliamentary aspirants who fail to abide by the rules of engagement will be disqualified.
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