The aspiring presidential candidates for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) have picked their positions on the ballot paper.
The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, got the bottom position just as former President John Kufuor in 2000, using the famous ‘Aseɛ hɔ’ slogan that won him the election against late Professor John Mills.
During the 2000 presidential election campaign, the NPP adopted “Positive Change” as their campaign slogan, due to the long stay of the NDC in office, but it was taken over by ‘Aseɛ hɔ’ after former President Kufuor had picked the last position on the ballot.
On Wednesday, July 26, 2023 the ten aspiring flag bearers of the NPP secured their positions on the ballot paper for the Special Delegates Congress, slated for August 26, 2023.
Next month’s poll is to select the best five presidential aspirants, out of the ten, to compete on November 4, 2023.
In the order picked by the aspirants, Kennedy Agyapong will be number one on the ballot, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen number two, Joe Ghartey number three, Kwadwo Poku number four and Dr. Afriyie Akoto number five.
The rest are; Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, number six; Addai Nimo, number seven; Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, number eight; Boakye Agyarko, number nine and Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, number 10.
FREE, FAIR ELECTIONS
Nine of the ten aspirants, apart from Dr. Bawumia, have had cause to raise concerns pertaining to the processes leading to the voting.
The nine presidential aspirants, nicknamed ‘Gang of Nine’, had earlier petitioned the National Council of the party, requesting that the forthcoming Super Delegates Conference be centralised, which was rejected.
Meanwhile, the Elections Committee of the party is also promising a free, fair and transparent election on August 26, 2023.
According to the committee, it will ensure that all aspirants accept the outcome of the election, as it will engage aspirants on a regular basis before the elections.
Spokesperson for the Committee, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, told journalists that the necessary processes have so far been laid, with everything going according to plan.
“This is a family affair and everything is going so well. We are very happy with the processes and guidelines laid out so far, and it is not going to be the first time the NPP is going to have an internal contest.
“Ours is to have a vibrant and engaging conference, and we are going to ensure that internal democracy is upheld, and it is as simple as that.”
WARNING
A statement the party issued on July 24, 2023 after the National Council meeting said the Council took a serious view of “some unhealthy” comments and utterances from “some aspiring presidential candidates and their supporters.”
According to the release, the Council said those unhealthy comments do not augur well for the unity and cohesion of the party.
The statement, therefore, reinforced compliance with the code of conduct for the presidential and parliamentary elections.
It added that, “Any aspiring presidential candidate, or his supporters and party executives at all levels, who act in contravention of the code of conduct, moving forward, shall be dealt with in accordance with the guidelines thereof and the party constitution
