Audio Attachment:Listen to Prez John Mills after being vetted |
Peacefmonline.com can confirm President John Evans Atta Mills, a contender in the NDC's upcoming Presidential primaries in Sunyani, has also been officially cleared by the party�s Vetting Committee to contest the flagbearership race.
PeaceFM's Castle Correspondent Bernard Quantson who covered the vetting reports that President Mills spent a little over an hour before the committee.
According to him, the President answered all questions in his usual calm but intelligent manner.
Later in an interview with the media after his vetting, President Mills who was mobbed by party faithfuls said he was "satisfied" with the process and was hopeful that at the end of the day, "NDC will emerge victorious and not an individual".
�With God holding the banner, we shall succeed....what was happening in the Party was not a fight," he said.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ruling NDC, on Tuesday June 7th, began vetting its candidates ahead of the July 8-10 Presidential primaries in Sunyani.
Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings was the first to face the committee at its maiden meeting yesterday. She answered questions bordering on her suitability and preparedness to lead the party into the 2012 general elections.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Vetting Committee, Alhaji Issifu Ali, had express worry about the amount of mudslinging and insults being traded between supporters of the two candidates, and pointed out to the contestants the need to comport themselves to prevent the party from splitting after the primaries.
The failure of Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) to meet the requirements of the party and the deadline for submission of his nomination forms, meant the contest is now a two-horse race between Professor John Evans Atta Mills and Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings.
As stipulated under the NDC�s constitution and to ensure transparency, free and fair vetting, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party in consultation with the Council of Elders constituted a five (5) member Vetting Committee for the sole purpose of screening the two prospective candidates, which process must be concluded at least fourteen (14) clear days before the National Congress.
The party�s vetting committee is chaired by a former co-Chairman of the party, Alhaji Issifu Ali. Other committee members include Majority leader Cletus Avorka, Member of the NDC legal team, Larry Adjetey, Dr (Mrs) Mary Grant, Chris Ackummey and Lionel Molbila, a former Upper West Regional Minister.
Over 3,000 delegates, including foreign branch representatives, who are expected to exercise their franchise during the three-day special congress.
Founder of the Party, Leader of the Party and President of the Republic, the Vice President, National Executive Committee Members, Ministers of State, Selected Regional Executives, Committee Members, Parliamentarians and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) who are members of the party are part of the delegates.
Peacefmonline.com is reliably informed that the Council of Elders and representatives of the Tertiary Education Institution Network (TEIN) who form a vital component of the party�s constitution have also been included in the number of delegates expected at the Congress.
This is an historic first in the party�s internal electoral process.
Their inclusion was approved by the National Congress in Tamale early this year.
Source: Bernard Quantson/Peacefmonline.com
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