NPP Presidential Aspirants Vetted

The Vetting Committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) completed the vetting of all seven presidential hopefuls on Thursday.
 
Those vetted were 2012 Presidential candidate of the NPP, Nana Akufo Addo and his competitors Alan Kyeremanten and two others Addai Nimo and Konadu Apraku. 

The rest were Second Deputy Speaker and Member of Parliament (MP) for Essikado Ketan Joe Ghartey, former MP for Mfantseman West Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, and MP for Asuogyaman Kofi Osei Ameyaw.
 
The vetting is expected to trim down the number of candidates vying for the flagbearer slot. 

Meanwhile, the candidates refused to talk to the media after the vetting.
  
The Committee is expected to send a report to the national executive Committee (NEC) and the national Council of the party.

The nine-member committee is chaired by Ama Busia, a former member of the Council of State, with Professor Aaron Mike Ocquaye, Kwadwo Okyere Mpiani, Most Rev. Dr. Samuel Asante-Antwi, C.K Tedam, Peter Mac Manu, Madam Christine Churcher, Joseph Boahen Aidoo and Ambassador Kwabena Mensah Bonsu as members.

It is unclear whether all seven aspirants would be cleared to contest the upcoming Special Congress to cut down the number of aspirants to five as prescribed by the party’s constitution.

However, reports say the leadership of the party has decided to organize an open forum for people to challenge any of the aspirants on Monday August 4, 2014. It would be followed by a compilation of the delegates register from the polling stations to National level from August 11 to 16, 2014.

All seven aspirants will ballot for positions on the ballot paper, leading to the special conference to shortlist five candidates on Sunday August 31, 2014.

After that event, the party will go to congress on Saturday October 18, 2014 to elect a flag bearer who would lead the NPP in the crucial 2016 general elections.

The fate of all seven aspirants will first be decided by 826 party faithful, who make up the Special electoral College.

The Special electoral College is made up of 123 members of Parliament (MPs), 55 members of the national Council, 10 members of the national executive Committee, 44 members of the national Council of elders, 435 members of the regional executive Committee, nine members of Special organs of the NPP, 48 members of the external Branches, 27 past national officials and 75 Founding members.

Each of them will be entitled to one vote.


GBC