The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has held balloting for its flagbearer hopefuls ahead of the special delegates conference on August 26.
At the end of the balloting held in Accra today, Wednesday, July 26, 2023, Kennedy Agyapong picked the first slot followed by Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen with the second slot.
Agents of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia picked the 10th position for their boss.
Making this known in Accra on Wednesday, the Spokesperson for the NPP’s Elections Committee, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin said “Now let me inform you the order that the aspirants will be appearing on the ballot papers. Ken Ohene Agyapong, number one; Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, number two; Joe Ghartey, number three; Kwadwo Poku, number four; Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, number five; Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, number six; Francis Addai Nimoh, number seven; Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, number eight; Boakye Kyeremanteng Agyarko, number nine and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, number 10.”
He also said that they had agreed on some issues to ensure that the election was successful.
“I am happy to announce that we have a very successful engagement with eight of the aspirants and the representatives of the others. We had our engagements and we deliberated on a few matters that were of concern. We were able to build consensus on the nagging issues and incorporated the same into the guidelines. We have agreed that the EC will take charge of the elections and see to the security of the elections. Agents of the aspirants will also oversee so the printing of the ballot papers won’t be printed by the party but by the EC and all that we will do is to furnish them with details of the aspirants,” he stated.
Addressing journalists after the balloting, Kwabena Agyepong said “I think that everything went well. We just want to have a sanitised election and the EC is in charge of the process.”
He indicated that his number (six) meant he would win the elections and also said that their photo albums according to the party’s leadership were ready for collection.
The NPP will on August 26th cut down the list of its presidential aspirants from 10 to five as stipulated in its constitution.
Prior to the balloting, nine of the aspirants excluding Dr. Bawumia petitioned the leadership of the party to hold the special delegates conference at one centre instead of the regional level.
They said plans to allow only 900 delegates to vote at the regional level did not sit well with them.
But the National Council of the NPP after a crunch meeting on July 20 dismissed the petition.
The party subsequently issued the following directives to guide the polls:
- The Special Electoral College scheduled for August 26, 2023, shall be held at each of the 16 Regional Capitals.
- Each delegate shall be entitled to one vote, and shall cast his/her vote by secret ballot for only one Candidate.
- All Aspiring Presidential Candidates shall be given the validated Album for the Special Electoral College at least one month to the date of the Congress (i.e. not later than July 26, 2023).
- The Electoral Commission of Ghana shall conduct the Special Electoral College elections.
- An Elections Committee has been constituted to supervise the conduct of the Special Electoral College and the National Congress respectively.
- The National Council took a serious view of some unhealthy comments and utterances from some aspiring Presidential Candidates and their supporters, which do not auger well for the unity and cohesion of the Party.
- Accordingly, the Council, by this statement, reinforces compliance with the Code of Conduct for Presidential and Parliamentary Elections of the Party.
- Any Aspiring Presidential Candidate, or his supporters, and party executives at all levels who act in contravention of the Code of Conduct, moving forward, shall be dealt with in accordance with the guidelines thereof and the Party Constitution.
