The New Patriotic Party (NPP) goes to the polls on July 16 to elect national executives to round off its internal elections. The National Chairman, Freddy Blay, on Wednesday June 8, 2022, inaugurated the National Elections Committee and a National Planning Committee for the conduct of the party’s 2022 National Annual Delegates Conference.
However, some few days to the elections, concerns have been raised about the shortfalls in the register of voters. The album for the impending National Delegates Congress is suspected to be defective. Observers have noted that the detected shortcomings, if not corrected, could be a recipe for election malpractices and irregularities, and would mar the Congress scheduled to be held in Accra, from July 15 to 17, 2022.
The Chronicle has sighted extracts of the said Register of Voters (album) in which pictures, as well as Voter ID numbers and contacts of some of the National Council of Elders and founding fathers of the party, are missing. For instance, not only do Messrs John Kaife Mensah, Ato Hamilton, Obeng Appiah and Osei Nyame have no pictures, but their voters ID numbers and contacts are not showing.
The Chronicle sources have pointed to extracts, which explicitly show pictures of Professor Bawuah, Dr. Akuamoah Boateng, Rt. Hon. Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, but their contacts and voter IDs are indicated as “null”. Prof. Dominic K. Fobih, Prof. Wayo Seini, Muhammed Aminu Amadu and Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson have their pictures embossed in the album, but no indication of their voter’s ID numbers and contacts similarly marked as “null”.
Also affected in the same way are Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, Kwesi Abeasi, Alex Glover- Quarter and Hajia Adam Jebuni.
An extract of founding members sighted by The Chronicle has revealed that the under-listed, among several others, have not provided their voter’s ID numbers and contacts, as well as their photographs. The affected in this category are Catherine Tedam, G.K. Osei Bonsu, Nana Sonful Akwatia, A.E.A. Asiamah, Mary Nartey, Salifu Mahami, Daniel Kwasi Adusei and Alberta Cudjoe.
Concerned members of the party have complained about the development and called on the National Elections Committee of the party to address the shortfalls before the conduct of the election is affected.
The National Elections Committee, which is chaired by Mr. Peter Mac Manu, shall superintend over all the election-related activities of the Conference, including sale of Nomination Forms and Vetting of Aspiring Candidates in line with the Party’s Rules and Regulations for the conduct of the Conference. The elections shall be supervised by the Electoral Commission of Ghana in line with Section 17(2) of the Political Parties Law, Act 574.
Other members of the National Elections Committee include Oboshie Sai Coffie, Amin Anta, Ambassador Edward Boateng, Lawyer Gary Nimako Esq., and Ing. Kwesi Abease, Mrs. Mawusi Nudekor Awity, Evans Nimako, Alhaji Bismi Hussain, Dr. Kwaku Agyemang-Budu Esq., Eric Ntori and Emmanuel Darkwa Esq.
On the other hand, the National Planning Committee is chaired by Mr. Sekyere Abankwah, and shall be responsible for coordinating the activities of all the conference subcommittees to ensure the smooth organisation and conduct of the National Annual Delegates Conference.
