Today is NPP's Big Day

The seventh Annual National Delegates Conference of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will take place today Saturday, August 25, 2001.

It could end in an anti climax for the ruling party or be the setting of new agenda that could propel the party to greater achievement.

Many candidates have announced their withdrawal from the various races for party offices and more withdrawals are expected on the floor of the congress today.

Sources within the NPP, have confirmed that, shuffling for the various posts intensified in the last few days, with the pro-Kufuor camp within the party gaining the upper hand.

Vice Chairman of the Central Regional NPP, Haruna Esseku, has been penciled down to replace the Canada-bound diplomat and incumbent Chairman, Samuel Odoi-Sykes.

Messrs Stephen Ayensu Ntim, Edmund Annan, and the 58-year old Agnes Adzo Okudzeto are tipped for the three vice-chairs. Alhaji Ahmed Osman withdrew from the race for the office. In his withdrawal letter to the General Secretary of the party, he said his decision was made after a sober reflection and in the interest of the unity of the party. Yaw Amankwa, who was also contesting the position had withdrawn earlier.

68-year old Harvard-trained Michael Dugan, the chairman of the Election Committee for the 1998 elections and for the Logistics Committee of the December elections is expected to become the new party treasurer.

The post of National Organiser originally expected to go to the Deputy Greater Accra Regional Chairman, Lord Commey, is likely to be parceled out to Alhaji Sulemana Bartholomew Mousieyiri.

The incumbent National Secretary, Dan Botwe stands unopposed, being the only candidate who filed to contest the position.

The conference is expected to attract 490 delegates comprising two each from the 200 constituencies, the council of elders and the national council of the party.

The candidates are:

National Chairman: Mohammed Musah, Samuel Addai-Duah, Haruna Esseku and Robert Quainoo-Arthur; National Organiser, Alhaji Sulemana Yirimea, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Lord Enoch Oblitey Commey, and Aboagye Johnson Cliff.

The rest are: National Treasurer, Kwesi Arthur, Michael Dugan, Samuel James Nii Adjei Tawiah and Dr Brandford Ekow Ansah.

The National Vice-Chairman, Yaw Albert Osebre, Stephen Ayensu Ntim, Dr Kwesi Adjepong, Herman Seshie, Samuel Kwame Amable, Nana Afum Boateng, Yaw Amankwa, Edmund Annan, Mrs Agnes Adzo Okudzeto and Catherine K. Tedam.

The first three with the highest votes cast would fill the three slots for the national vice-chairman post.

He said NPP parliamentarians who are not delegates, members of the national council or council of elders would not to vote.