NPP race is open to all candidates - Ntow

Accra, Nov. 22, GNA - Nana Ohene Ntow, General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party on Thursday debunked the claim of a senior member of the party that a list of five presidential aspirants considered to be marketable would be presented for the December 22, Special National Delegates Congress. He said: "I consider the statement attributed to Mr Akenten Appiah-Menka, Chairman of Elders Council of the party as his personal comment, it does not reflect the thinking of the Council or for that matter the National Executive Committee."

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra Nana Ohene Ntow said the Constitution proscribed any official of the party to openly or covertly support any flag bearer aspirant.

Nana Ohene Ntow said a directive to party officers forbade national, regional, constituency, polling station levels as well as overseas branches, Members of Parliament, Ministers of State, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives from openly declaring support of any branch, constituency or organ for any individual candidate or campaign for any candidate.

The General Secretary also urged aspirants, party executives or their agents and delegates to refrain from what has become known as 'CAMPING' - depriving other contestants access to delegates by camping them at hide-outs.

He warned, "Sanctions shall be applied appropriately." He said the party had secured a hostel to host all delegates at the expense of the party and urged aspirants to refrain from the camping practices.

Nana Ohene Ntow reminded aspirants, their agents and supporters to desist from statements and acts of omission and commission that could overtly undermine the NPP government, the President, unity and integrity of the party at the national, regional, local and international levels. "Aspirants and their agents must desist from vilification of other contestants as it has the tendency to set party leaders in conflict with each other...violence and acts of intimidation shall have no place in the on-going campaign and all aspirants and their agents shall respect this rule," the General Secretary stated. The NPP General Secretary urged delegates to resist attempts or coercion by any of the aspirants to swear oath to secure favourable votes.