NPP Polls: Let us not give NDC power over us – Ayikoi Otoo warns

A Former Attorney General Nii Ayikoi Otoo has warned aspirants in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) elections to conduct themselves in ways that do not give political weapons to the opposition parties to use against the governing party.

He expressed optimism that the NPP will go through this process peacefully.

In a statement, the National Chairman hopeful said “The National Council has released Rules and Regulations and time table for conduct of election of National Officers of the NPP scheduled to take place at the Accra Sports Stadium from 15th to 17th July 2022.
It follows that we now know all the delegates who will decide the fate of National Officers Hopefuls.This is a journey of internal elections from Polling Stations, Electoral Area Coordinators, Constituency and Regional Officers.

“Though initially there were hiccups which gave cause for concern, largely all the internal elections have been held successfully leaving only the highest positions which I believe will also pass off amiably.Let us remember that the goal is not to tear ourselves apart and give ammunition to our opponents but to work assiduously to retain power.

“I wish to congratulate all those who emerged victorious at every stage of the contest and to call on all who were not successful to pledge their unflinching support to the Party since the contest is rather about how to break the eight for NPP to hand over to NPP.
Let us unite to build a strong and impregnable defence of our achievements so that we will remain attractive in 2024.”

Below is the timetable for the polls…

For Immediate Release

CONDUCT OF NATIONAL ANNUAL DELEGATES CONFERENCE AND RELATED MATTERS

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The National Council of the NPP, at its last meeting held on 12th May, 2022, approved the following Rules and Regulations to guide the conduct of the Party’s 2022 National Annual Delegates Conference, which shall, among other things, elect National Executive Officers of the Party, between 15th – 17th July, 2022.

RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE CONDUCT OF NATIONAL EXECUTIVES ELECTIONS

With reference to Article 10(2) of the NPP Constitution which provides that, the Party’s National Annual Delegates Conference shall meet to elect National Officers, as well as Article 18 on Guidelines for the operations of the Party at all levels, the Party’s National Council, has, at its meeting on May 12, 2022, approved the following Rules and Regulations for the conduct of the Party’s National Annual Delegates Conference, to elect National Officers:

1) The National Officers Elections shall be conducted at a National Annual Delegates Conference to be held from Friday, 15th July, 2022 to Sunday, 17th July, 2022, across the country.

2) Pursuant to Section17(2) of the Political Parties Law, Act 574, which provides that the election of National, Regional and Constituency Officers of every political party shall be conducted under the supervision of the Electoral Commission, the National Elections shall be supervised by the Electoral Commission of Ghana.

3) All election-related processes shall be organized and superintended over by a 9-member National Elections Committee, constituted as follows:

i. Peter Manu (Chairman)
ii. Evans Nimako (Secretary)
iii. Amb. Edward Boateng
iv. Mrs. Mawusi Nudekor Awity
v. Hon. Amin Anta
vi. Alhaji Bismi Hussain
vii. Ing. Kwesi Abease
viii. Hon Oboshie Sai Coffie
ix. Lawyer Gary Nimako
x. Eric Ntori
xi. Lawyer Emmanuel Darkwa

4) The National Annual Delegates Conference shall be held at the Accra Sports Stadium.

5) In line with Article 10(2)(3) of the Party Constitution, the National Annual Delegates Conference shall be attended by the following delegates:

(a) All Members of the National Council;
(b) All Members of the National Executive Committee;
(c) All Members of the Regional Executive Committees;
(d) All Members of the Constituency Executive Committees;
(e) Fifteen (15) Members of the National Council of Elders;
(f) Twelve (12) delegates from every External Branch;
(g) One (1) TESCON representative from each recognized tertiary Institution in the country (for the avoidance of doubt, the TESCON President or his representative shall represent the tertiary institution);
(h) Fifteen (15) Patrons elected from among themselves;
(i) Founding Members across the country, who are signatories to the registration documents of the Party at the Electoral Commission;
(j) All Party Members of Parliament; and
(k) All Party Members who are Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives.

6) The presence of at least one-third (1/3) of the delegates to the National Annual Delegates Conference shall be necessary to constitute a quorum of the Conference.

7) The National Officers Elections shall be conducted in accordance with the following schedules:

i. Opening and Closing of Nominations – 8th – 12th June, 2022
ii. Filing of Nomination – 13th – 15th June, 2022
iii. Vetting of Aspirants – 17th – 20th June, 2022
iv. Release of Vetting Report – 22nd June, 2022
v. Hearing of Appeals (if any) – 24th – 25th June, 2022 (by National Appeals Committee)
vi. ELECTIONS – 15th – 17th JULY, 2022

8) Nomination Forms shall be purchased by prospective Candidates or their representatives, from the National Elections Committee, at the NPP Headquarters, within working hours, after the payment of non-refundable Nomination Fee, as follows:

a) National Chairperson – Twenty Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHc 20,000)
b) Vice Chairpersons – Fifteen Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHc 15,000)
c) General Secretary – Ten Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHc 10,000)
d) All Other Positions – Eight Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHc 8,000)
e) Special Wings (Youth/Women/Nasara) – Six Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHc6,000)

9) For the avoidance of doubt, the Nomination Fee shall be paid at the point of picking Nomination Forms.

10) A prospective Candidate shall NOT be denied access to procure Nomination Forms.

11) A prospective Candidate shall be a registered voter and shall be required to produce his/her Biometric Voter ID Card issued by the Electoral Commission of Ghana.

12) A prospective Candidate shall be a known and active member of the Party in good standing for at least five(5) years. Good standing is demonstrated by active participation in Party activities, payment of dues and demonstrable commitment to abiding by the Constitution, and Rules and Regulations of the Party.

13) A prospective Candidate for any of the National Officers position shall be nominated by one(1) member of the Party’s National Council and seconded by twenty (20) known and active registered members of the Party. All the seconders shall be in good standing.

14) Three passport-sized photographs shall accompany each Nomination Form.

15) The National Elections Committee shall be responsible for the vetting of all prospective Candidates from 17th to 20th June, 2022.

16) Disqualified or aggrieved Aspirants/Members of the Party may petition the National Appeals Committee for redress from 24th – 25th June, 2022.

17) The National Appeals Committee is constituted as follows:

a. Hon. Dan Botwe – Chairman
b. Hon. Rev. S. K. Boafo – Member
c. Dr. Clifford Braimah – Member
d. Ms. Joyce Opoku Boateng – Member
e. Mr. Kwadwo Afari – Member
f. Iddi Muhayu-Deen – Member & Secretary

18) The decision of the National Appeals Committee shall be communicated on 26th June, 2022, which decision, shall be final and binding.

19) No member of the National Elections Committee or the National Appeals Committee shall be eligible to contest in the National Officers Elections.

20) Polling Station Executives, Electoral Area Coordinators, Constituency Executives, Regional Executives, External Branch Executives, MMDCEs, Ministers of State, and Deputy Ministers of State, who are desirous of contesting in the National Officers Elections, shall first resign their positions.

21) For identification purposes, delegates/voters shall use their Party Membership Identity (ID) Card, but where same is unavailable, National Voters ID will be admitted for the purpose of voting.

22) The National Album, submitted to the Electoral Commission by the Party’s National Secretariat, shall be used as the Register for the conduct of the elections.

23) Any delegate who appoints a proxy, shall apply to the National Elections Committee, not later than 1st July, 2022.

24) Positions to be contested for include:
a) National Chairperson
b) 1st National Vice-Chairperson
c) 2nd National Vice-Chairperson
d) 3rd National Vice-Chairperson
e) General Secretary
f) National Treasurer
g) National Organizer
h) National Women Organizer
i) National Youth Organizer
j) National Nasara Coordinator

25) For the avoidance of doubt, Article 10(6) of the Party Constitution provides that, “there shall be three(3) National Vice Chairpersons, ranked first, second and third, according to the number of votes received at the at the National Annual Delegates Conference.”

26) Any Member of the Party or Aspirant who feels aggrieved at any point in the process SHALL exhaust ALL available internal resolution mechanisms in accordance with the provisions of the Party Constitution, and the decision of the National Appeals Committee on the matter shall be final and binding.

DELEGATES FOR THE SPECIAL ORGANS OF THE PARTY
A. National Youth Wing

a) The National Youth Organizer and Deputies
b) All former National Youth Organizers and Deputies
c) All Regional Youth Organizers and Deputies
d) All Constituency Youth Organizers and Deputies
e) All External Branch Youth Organizers and Deputies
f) The TESCON President (or his representative in the absence of the President) from each of the recognized tertiary institutions in the country
g) All NPP Members of Parliament who are below 40 years
h) All Party Members who are Ministers, Deputy Ministers, MMDCEs below 40 years

B. Women’s Wing

a) National Women Organizer and Deputies
b) All former National Women Organizers and Deputies
c) All Regional Youth Organizers and Deputies
d) All Constituency Women Organizers and Deputies
e) All External Branch Women Organizers and Deputies
f) The TESCON Women Organizer (or her representative in the absence of the Women Organizer) from each of the recognized tertiary institutions in the country
g) All NPP Female Members of Parliament
h) All Female Party Members who are Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and MMDCEs

C. Nasara Wing

a) National Nasara Coordinator and Deputies
b) All former National Nasara Coordinators and Deputies
c) All Regional Nasara Coordinators and Deputies
d) All Constituency Nasara Coordinators and Deputies
e) All External Branch Nasara Coordinators and Deputies
f) The TESCON Nasara Coordinator (or his representative in the absence of the Nasara Coordinator) from each of the recognized tertiary institutions in the country
The Party is counting on the usual cooperation of all members in the conduct of these internal elections, in the interest of the Party.
Thank you.

…Signed…

JOHN BOADU
GENERAL SECRETARY

Source: 3news.com|Ghana