Judgement day for NPP

... 58,000 delegates vote for parliamentary candidates

The decision by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to expand its electoral college to cover as many as 117,000 delegates, the first of its kind in Africa, will be put to a second test today, as an estimated 58,800 of them go to the polls to elect parliamentary candidates for the various constituencies across the country.

Last year, all the 117,000 delegates voted in the presidential primary that elected Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo as presidential candidate of the party. This time round not all the delegates are going to vote, because candidates in 73 of the 230 constituencies are going unopposed.

Elections in 10 other constituencies have also been suspended by the party. Constituencies on the waiting list are Bosome-Freho, Bekwai, Nkawkaw, Zebila, Talensi, Sege, Obom-Domeabrah, Sisala East, Sisala West and Jirapa. The party has not officially explained the reason behind the postponement of elections in these constituencies. The Chronicle has, however, learnt that the decision was to enable some of the independent members of parliament representing these constituencies, and are likely to switch to the NPP, meet the constitutionally mandated date for them to resign and contest the elections on the ticket of the elephant family.

Per the 1992 Constitution, any MP who crosses carpet to another party must resign from Parliament for a bye-election to be held to elect a new representative.

Seth Agyei Baah, alias Shaaba, and Osei Owusu are MPs for Nkawkaw and Bekwai respectively, and if they are to contest the NPP primaries, it would mean they have joined another political party other than the one that sent them to the august House.

This means that they would have to resign from Parliament for the Electoral Commission to conduct bye-elections in the two constituencies.

In the case of the remaining eight constituencies, where the elections have been suspended, The Chronicle gathered that the party was trying to align itself with other political parties to ensure that they wrestle the seats from the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Information made available to The Chronicle from the headquarters of the party, indicates that 516 candidates are contesting the election in 220 constituencies.

The breakdown is as follows: Ashanti – 95, Brong Ahafo – 49, Central – 51, Eastern – 62, Greater Accra – 77, Northern – 67, Upper East – 24, Upper West – 14, Volta -32, and Western Region 45. Out of the 516 candidates, 452 are male, whilst the remaining 64 are female.

The Director of Communications of the party, Nana Akomea, told this reporter yesterday that though there would be no elections in the 73 constituencies whose candidates are going unopposed, the delegates would still congregate to officially endorse them.

Elections rules released by Mr. Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, Director of Elections/Research, indicate that voting would start at 9:00 a.m. and end at 2:00 p.m. The counting of ballots begins immediately after voting.

The Constituency Delegates’ Register shall consist of; Constituency Executive Committee (16), Polling Station Executives, Electoral Area Coordinators, Sitting Member of Parliament, 5 elected members from the Council of Elders, 5 elected members from the Council of Patrons, any Founding Member from the Constituency who is a signatory to the registration documents of the party at the Electoral Commission

According to Mr. Korsah, the Parliamentary Election Committee would have to submit the names of 5 elected members of the councils of Elders/Patrons to the Electoral Commission ( EC).

All officers of the party must also take note that the conduct of elections at the Constituency is the responsibility of the Constituency Parliamentary Election Committee (CEC) and the Electoral Commission. All serving officers must therefore desist from interfering with the process.

The Director of Elections further warned against the camping of delegates, and that any aspirant found to engage in this practice could be disqualified. All delegates whose names appear on the register must be allowed to vote without hindrance.

According to him, the non-payment of dues should not be grounds for dis-enfranchising a delegate.

Party membership cards should also not be the requirement of any delegate to vote or gain access to the venue of the election. Every delegate has automatic access to the election venue.