781 Delegates to take part in NPP Special Electoral College

A total of 781 delegates are expected to take part in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Special Electoral College to elect  the top  presidential aspirants tomorrow, Sunday.

The election, which is taking place at 11 polling centres in the 10 regional capitals and the national headquarters, is aimed at pruning down the number of presidential aspirants from seven to five to comply with the dictates of the party’s constitution which stipulates that not more than  five aspirants could vie for the flagbearership of the party.

In 2007, there were as many as 17 presidential aspirants  vying for the flagbearership and it  raised hue and cry from the general public accusing the presidential aspirants of being power drunk.

Since then, the constitution of the party had been amended  to prevent a greater number of people presenting themselves to be elected as presidential candidates of the party.

Ten of the polling centres are situated in the 10 regional capitals, while the 11th will be sited at the National headquarters at Asylum Down in Accra.

Former President J.A. Kufuor, national executive members, past national executive members and presidential aspirants are expected to vote at the national headquarters of the party.

The  largest electoral college is in the Ashanti Region which has 130 delegates, followed by the  headquarters which has 103 delegates.

The Upper West Region has the smallest number of delegates in the  country with a total of 33 delegates, while the Upper East Region has 38 delegates.

The break down of the delegates on  regional basis is: in the Volta Region, there are 51 delegates,   Greater Accra Region 68 delegates, Eastern Region 91, Central Region 55, Brong Ahafo 74, Northern Region 70   and Western Region 66.

The General Secretary of the party, Mr Kwabena Agyepong, who spoke to the Daily Graphic, urged  party  executives to refrain from giving instructions to election officials from the Electoral Commission (EC) who are conducting the election.

He said the  seven presidential aspirants had the opportunity to be represented at the polling centres by two agents and one each at the strong room.

The General Secretary said counting would  begin immediately the polls are over at 3 p.m.

He said the result declaration forms would be filled at the regional polling centres and transmitted to the  strong room in Accra.

Mr Agyepong said the EC after compiling the results would transmit them to the NPP headquarters for the results to be openly declared by the General Secretary.

 One of the front runners, Nana Akufo-Addo, is campaigning on experience and that he has been tested and marketed to make his chances of capturing  power from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) brighter.

Alan Kyerematen is campaigning on change and  his ability to attract floating voters to the party instead of relying on core NPP membership to win election in the country.

 A former Minister, Mr Asamoah Boateng, is campaigning on refreshing change that he would bring on board to make the party capture power.

Mr Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, on the other hand, is warning the party against a divided path that has caused the party’s electoral defeat in 1979, 2008 and 2012.

Mr Francis Addai Nimoh,  refers to himself as  David, who has come from nowhere to defeat Goliath. He is also counting on his youthfulness, as  the youngest in the race, and is counting on the youthful segment of the party to vote for him to bring unity into the party.

Dr Konadu Apraku is campaigning on drastic reforms in the party to enable the party to recapture its past glory in the Brong Ahafo, Western and Greater Accra region, while guarding  jealously in the Ashanti and Eastern regions where the NDC is making inroads.

Mr Joe Ghartey believes he is the unifier, and given the opportunity, he would bring electoral victory to the NPP in 2016. He is, therefore, offering himself as a marketable presidential candidate who will win the Central, Western and Greater Accra regions for the party.

Meanwhile, the application brought by Mr David Hoezame before an Accra Fast Track Court seeking to prevent the NPP from holding the Special Delegates Congress has been dismissed by the court.

At the court yesterday, Justice K.A. Ofori Atta  further asked Mr Hoezame, who was the former constituency chairman for North Tongu in the Volta Region, to pay GH¢5,000 in addition to losing the case.