Veep nominees of NPP to pay 17,500 cedis

Accra, Sept. 22, GNA - The National Executive Committee of New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Saturday announced that Vice Presidential nominees would pay 17,500 Ghana cedis (175 Million cedis) as earnest money in affirmation of acceptance and selection.

Nana Ohene Ntow, General Secretary of the party who announced this said: "The position is a privileged slot and it is fair for the chosen vice presidential nominee to acknowledge the honour by paying 50 per cent of the earnest money 25,000 new Ghana cedis(250 million cedis) paid by the flag bearer aspirant towards capital mobilization of the party". Addressing Journalists after the official opening of the party's flag bearership nomination, he outlined a seven-point procedure and requirement for the aspirants.

Every member of the party who seeks the party's nomination as the flag bearer for Elections 2008, shall submit a hand written application to the General Secretary outlining his or her reasons for seeking the slot.

The aspirant is required to provide a curriculum vitae, a statement explaining any time spent in police custody, detention, exile or prison. Provide evidence of constitutional qualification for the nomination in the form of a photocopy of voter's identity card, birth certificate and statutory declaration in terms of the 1992 Constitution. The aspirant should provide evidence of qualification for the nomination in accordance to the party's constitution - membership card or certificate and evidence of being in good standing.

All applicants may pay in person or through their agents 25,000 Ghana cedis (250 million cedis) through bankers' draft payable to NPP as earnest money in support of the application.

According to Article 12 of the NPP Constitution, on election of presidential candidate, no member shall be entitled to nomination as the Party's Presidential Candidate unless he or she is a known and active member of at least five years.

The person should be of good character, paid the prescribed fee for presidential aspirants by the deadline set by the National Executive Committee and is otherwise of good standing.

Other requirements are, he or she is found to be qualified to be a Presidential Candidate by the Vetting Committee, has signed the Undertaking for Presidential Aspirants and his/her nomination has been endorsed in writing by at least 100 members from each Region. It shall be the obligation of the member seeking nomination as the Party's Presidential Candidate to satisfy the National Executive Committee that the conditions stipulated in Article 12(4) have been fulfilled and any application that does not comply with these conditions shall be rejected.

The Party's Presidential Candidate shall be elected by the National Congress, which shall comprise the following delegates: 10 delegates from each constituency, a representative of the Founding Members from each region.

Others are a representative of the Patrons from each Region, a representative of each overseas branch of the party that is entitled to send a representative to the congress.

Where there is a sole contestant for nominations as the Party's Presidential candidate, the congress shall acclaim his/her nomination as the party's Presidential Candidate.

Where there is more than one contestant, each delegate will cast his or her vote by secret ballot for one of the contestants. Where a contestant obtains more than fifty per cent of the votes cast, he or she shall be the party's Presidential Candidate. Where, however, no contestant obtains more than 50 per cent of the votes cast there shall be a run-off between the first two contestants and the contestant with a simple majority shall be the party's Presidential Candidate.

In the event of a tie between the two contestants, the run off will continue until one contestant obtains a simple majority. 22 Sept. 07