Before the internal elections, flagbearer aspirants were briefed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and other top NPP officials.
Along with other attendees were Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, head of the Council of Elders, Stephen Ntim, National Chair of the NPP, and Justin Kodua Frimpong, General Secretary.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President, Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong, Former Mampong Member of Parliament, Francis Addai-Nimoh, Former Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, observed the meeting.
At the meeting, Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang spoke.
“I am very much aware that it is not always easy to forgive and forget the most egregious abuses in losing an election; there may be further challenges and ridicule along the way,” he remarked.
Elections always have this element to them, but we must not let the deepest suffering destroy us since doing so is the only way our party can survive in this rapidly shifting political environment.
“We must keep in mind that while November 4th come and go and only serve as a memory, the NPP will endure for a very long time if we do not allow our actions to destroy it.”
On Saturday, November 4, the NPP will run for flagbearer.
The rules for the 276 seats around the nation as well as the Party Headquarters in Asylum Down, Accra, have been provided by the Presidential Elections Committee.
The committee said in a statement that the guidelines delineated the protocols and regulations for the primary elections that would choose a presidential candidate for the general election in 2024.
“The Electoral Commission (EC) shall supervise the conduct of the elections and shall have the full responsibility of ensuring a transparent, free and fair election. No persons, whether party officials or otherwise whatsoever shall act in contravention to the EC and these guidelines.”
The Committee added that “the security activities rest exclusively with the police and access beyond security perimeters is restricted to Delegates, Presidential Elections Committee Members, Contestants and their accredited agents. The Presidential Elections Committee of the Party is the entity with the Constitutional mandate from National Council to oversee the organization and conduct of the election for the Presidential Candidatte.”
The committee also said that there shall be no campaign, canvassing for votes or gathering of party people for any purpose whatsoever a day before voting, adding that there shall be no camping of delegates, accreditation is constituency specific and that the media will be granted accreditation.
“Voters are expected to “walk in” freely by themselves. The physically challenged may be assisted. A voter must wait to be cleared before entering the perimeter- Queue Control. No voter shall wear the colour or effigy of a contestant at the voting center (i.e. T-shirts, cap, posters of contestants). Delegates shall not be allowed to enter the voting screen or booth in groups or in pairs.”
“Voting shall not take place indoors but in an open place in the full glare of the public. It is an offence for unaccredited persons to enter the voting perimeter. A delegate who has already cast his/her vote shall not be re-admitted into the voting perimeter. Any person found directing a delegate on which contestant to vote for commits an offence and shall be removed by the police,” the committee stated.
