The second highest decision-making body of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the national council (NC), on Wednesday, decided finally that the presidential primaries of the party to elect a flag bearer should take place on October 18, 2014.
The leadership of the party had tentatively fixed December 6 as the date for the holding of the primaries, subject to approval by the NC.
The constitution of the party stipulates that the presidential primaries be held at least two years before any general election, and six months after the opening of nominations.
However, there have been calls from various quarters, especially the regional chairmen of the party, for the presidential primaries to be held in September to help the party channel its resources into preparing itself for the general election in 2016, instead of dissipating their resources on internal elections.
The fixing of October 18 as the date for the primaries therefore seems to be a compromise meant to satisfy those calling for early primaries and those who would like to stick to the dictates of the party constitution.
Mr Kwabena Agyepong, General Secretary of the NPP, who briefed the press after the NC meeting, said August 31 had also been decided upon as the date for holding the special congress to prune the number of presidential candidates from seven to five.
Mr Agyepong explained that the special congress would be held simultaneously in the 10 regional capitals if the vetting committee found no grounds for disqualifying. any of the candidates.
Mr Agyepong also said the NC meeting had, therefore, endorsed Madam Ama Busia, a former member of the Council of State, as chairman of the vetting committee.
The other members are Mr J.B. Aidoo; Madam Christian Churcher; Mr Peter Mac Manu, Chairman of the Organisation Committee; and Ambassador Mensah Bonsu, chairman of Research and Election Committee.
The rest are Mr Mike Ocquaye, Chairman of the Legal and Constitution Committee; Rev. Asante Antwi, Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, and Mr Kojo Mpiani, Chairman of the Finance Committee.
Apart from the five statutory committee members, another member of the vetting committee is the Chairman of the Council of Elders, Mr C. K. Tedem.
Mr Agyepong said contrary to speculations that the NC meeting, which had to be postponed earlier because of a court action initiated by a member of the party from the Volta Region, was going to be heated, it went on smoothly.The second highest decision-making body of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the national council (NC), on Wednesday, decided finally that the presidential primaries of the party to elect a flag bearer should take place on October 18, 2014.
The leadership of the party had tentatively fixed December 6 as the date for the holding of the primaries, subject to approval by the NC.
The constitution of the party stipulates that the presidential primaries be held at least two years before any general election, and six months after the opening of nominations.
However, there have been calls from various quarters, especially the regional chairmen of the party, for the presidential primaries to be held in September to help the party channel its resources into preparing itself for the general election in 2016, instead of dissipating their resources on internal elections.
The fixing of October 18 as the date for the primaries therefore seems to be a compromise meant to satisfy those calling for early primaries and those who would like to stick to the dictates of the party constitution.
Mr Kwabena Agyepong, General Secretary of the NPP, who briefed the press after the NC meeting, said August 31 had also been decided upon as the date for holding the special congress to prune the number of presidential candidates from seven to five.
Mr Agyepong explained that the special congress would be held simultaneously in the 10 regional capitals if the vetting committee found no grounds for disqualifying. any of the candidates.
Mr Agyepong also said the NC meeting had, therefore, endorsed Madam Ama Busia, a former member of the Council of State, as chairman of the vetting committee.
The other members are Mr J.B. Aidoo; Madam Christian Churcher; Mr Peter Mac Manu, Chairman of the Organisation Committee; and Ambassador Mensah Bonsu, chairman of Research and Election Committee.
The rest are Mr Mike Ocquaye, Chairman of the Legal and Constitution Committee; Rev. Asante Antwi, Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, and Mr Kojo Mpiani, Chairman of the Finance Committee.
Apart from the five statutory committee members, another member of the vetting committee is the Chairman of the Council of Elders, Mr C. K. Tedem.
Mr Agyepong said contrary to speculations that the NC meeting, which had to be postponed earlier because of a court action initiated by a member of the party from the Volta Region, was going to be heated, it went on smoothly.
However, a group sympathetic to the New Patriotic Party (NPP), True Patriots, has served notice that it will take the National Executive and the national council of the party to court if they decide to flout the party’s constitution and attempt to hold an early congress.
“The party’s constitution is clear that after the national executives give notice of a congress to elect a presidential candidate, it must allow six months for the aspirants to prepare; unfortunately what we see now is an attempt to flout the constitution,” a statement signed by the True Patriots said.
The election of a presidential candidate for the party is scheduled for the first week of December and seven candidates have filed their nominations and are expected to go through a vetting procedure.
If none of them is dropped at the vetting, there will be the need for a super delegates congress to prune the number to five in line with the party’s constitution.
The statement said the group had information that some of the candidates “are stampeding the national executive to do their bidding”, and this must not be allowed.
“Those candidates who are not ready to wait for the six months must sit back for the others to do their campaign,” it said.
The group, according to the statement, had information that some of the aspirants had planned to travel outside the country and were forcing the executive to bring the congress forward.
“Even if two or more candidates want an early congress, there is no need to flout the constitution of the NPP to please them,” the statement said.
“Whether it is for medical or business reasons, the party’s laws are supreme and should be allowed to guide everything that is done. We must prove to be the democrats that we are by demonstrating to our opponents that we truly walk what we preach.”
The statement recalled the recent threat by a member to take the party to court before the national executive hurriedly organised elections to elect regional representatives to the National Executive Council, and added “we must not be threatened with court action before we do what is lawful.”
