NPP Chair Contest: Fred Oware files

Outgoing First Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Fred Oware, on Thursday, filed his nominations way ahead of the date set for filing, giving an indication of his eagerness to unseat his boss and incumbent National Chairman of the party, Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey.

NPP Director of Elections, Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah who confirmed the information to DAILY GUIDE said incumbent National Treasurer and former boss of the Ghana Trade Fair Company, Esther Ofori, also submitted completed forms to file her nominations.

However, two other aspirants who turned up at the Asylum Down headquarters of the party in Accra could not file their nominations because there were issues with some of the information they provided on the forms.

According to Mr Korsah, they were therefore asked to go and make the necessary corrections and return the forms when they were duly completed.

By close of nominations on Wednesday, 46 card-bearing members of the NPP had picked up nomination forms to contest for various positions in the party, ranging from National Chairman, Vice Chairman, General Secretary, Treasurer, Organiser, Women’s Organiser, Youth Organiser and Nasara Coordinator.

Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye caused a surprise at the last minute when he asked his aides to pick up nomination forms for him to contest for the already keenly contested Chairmanship position, bringing the number of people who had expressed interest in the position, including incumbent Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, to five.

In all, 5,600 delegates are expected to partake in this decision-making process, which is now expected to be held at all various regions and the party headquarters in Accra.

Officially, nominations are expected to be opened and filed from February 7 to10, 2014, after which aspirants would go through a vetting process between 12 and13 February, 2014. Balloting for slots is expected to be done immediately after vetting.

But the Director of Elections said any aspirant who has completed his forms could submit ahead of time to avoid any last minute hitches or rush before filing of nominations close. The elections itself, which promises to be interesting, is expected to come off March 1, 2014.