Obour’s MP’s bid ‘divides’ NPP

Divisions have set into the camp of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) following a decision by the former President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Bice Osei Kuffour popularly called Obour to contest as a parliamentary candidate.

The popular Ghanaian hiplife musician is lacing his boots to contest the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante Akyem South Constituency of the Ashanti Region Hon Kwaku Asante Boateng.

His decision appears to have met a fierce resistance from a section of party executives loyal to the incumbent who are accusing him of using backdoor tactics to smoothen his way in order to be elected as the NPP’s candidate for the area.

One faction is however all out to support him which has resulted in some polling station executives being suspended by the disciplinary committee of the party for what they described as a violation of the election regulations of the NPP.

One such person is Christian Asante, who is the polling station chairman for Adansi D/A Junior High School but he reveals that he did nothing wrong to warrant the kind of punishment indicating that his indefinite suspension is a ploy by the constituency chairman, Gilbert Adarkwa Yiadom to settle personal scores.

Meanwhile, General Secretary of the NPP, John Boadu has in a statement revealed that he National Executive Committee considered the proposed guidelines and modalities for the conduct of the party’s parliamentary primaries in constituencies where the NPP has sitting members of parliament and tentatively set January 12, 2020, as the date for the conduct of the primaries pending ratification by the party’s National Council.

The approved Nomination Fee for aspiring parliamentary candidates stands at GH¢ 2,000 whereas the Filing Fee is GH¢20,000. In line with the party’s convention, non-MPs wishing to contest in the primaries shall be required to pay a Development Levy of GH¢30,000.

However, Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), Women and the Youth shall enjoy a rebate of 50% on the Filing Fee and the Development Levy. Such persons will therefore be required to pay GH¢25,000 to successfully file their nominations. Further details of the guidelines and modalities will soon be made public.

The National Council of the party, which is expected to meet within next week, will also approve the guidelines and modalities for the conduct of the party’s presidential primaries for the 2020 General Elections.