NPP Flags Off Contest

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has finally set timelines for the election of its polling station, constituency, regional and national executives. This follows a decision by the party�s National Executive Committee (NEC) to struck out proposals which, among others, called for an early congress and the election of flagbearer before the election of executives (top-down approach). The proposals which were allegedly being pushed through by the party Chairman, Jake Otanka Obestebi-Lamptey, had generated heated controversy in the NPP which some said could either make or break the party. Some party gurus, including former Member of Parliament (MP) for Mfantseman West, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, his colleague former MP for Ahafo-Ano South, Stephen Kwaku Balado Manu and MP for Asuogyaman, Akwasi Osei-Ameyaw openly spoke against the proposals. By 9am Thursday, members of the NEC had started arriving at the party headquarters, the venue for the meeting. In an hour�s later, the meeting got underway. After almost 3 hours behind closed doors, Acting Communications Director of the party, Curtis Perry Okudzeto, told anxious journalists �the decision is that the status quo should remain� referring to the bottom-up approach (the election of polling station, constituency, regional and national executives before that of flagbearer is considered). By this, the NPP would still maintain its existing procedure for electing party officers. A calendar has since been drawn up to begin the processes of electing party officers, beginning with those at the polling station level. The National Chairman of the party tabled the time-table on behalf of the Steering Committee, which is made up of the all national officers. After extensive deliberation however, the time-table was amended and upheld. With effect from October 11-30, 2013, the NPP is set to begin polling stations and electoral areas education exercise while at the same time compile and validate the polling station register. This would be followed by the election of polling station and electoral area officers, which is expected to start on November 1 and completed by November 30, 2013. Following that would be the nationwide election of constituency executives on December 15 with the exception of the Eastern Region because it would coincide with the burial and funeral of the late Henry Djaba, a party stalwart in the region and father of Afisah Otiko Djaba, National Women�s Organiser. Constituency executive appointees are, therefore, expected to be completed by December 28 while albums for the constituencies are expected to be completed by January 4, 2014. The party would then move to complete album for the regional elections on February 10, complete regional elections by January 25 and appointment of regional executives on February 8. National albums except regional executives are expected to be ready by January 28, followed by regional executives� album on February 12 and election of external branches scheduled for January 15. The list of external delegates is, therefore, expected to be submitted to the national headquarters by January 21 followed by much-anticipated elections of national executives slated for March 1, 2014.