The much awaited dates for the presidential and parliamentary primaries of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) have been released after meeting of the National Executive Committee and the National Council.
The National Council, which is the second highest decision-making body of the NPP after congress previously could not reach consensus and called for broader consultations.
However, after the marathon meeting on Monday, the party has announced a timetable for both presidential and parliamentary primaries ahead of the 2024 general election with presidential primaries expected to take place on November 4, 2023.
A statement from the NPP General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong said the governing party is expected to open nomination for the presidential elections on 26th May, and closed on 24th June, 2023.
It said the party will also conduct a Special Electoral College election on August 26 if the presidential hopefuls are more than five candidates in line with the NPP constitution.
Article 13 (9) of the party’s constitution states that “Where there are more than five contestants for nomination as the Party’s Presidential Candidate, a Special Electoral College shall cast their votes by secret ballot for the first five contestants to be short-listed.
The Special Electoral College shall comprise of the following delegates:
(i) the National Council
(ii) the National Executive Committee
(iii) the Regional Executive Committees
(iv) all Members of National Council of Elders
(v) all Party Members of Parliament
(vi) three (3) representatives from each of the special organs of the party.
(vii) past National Officers
(viii) three (3) representatives each from every external branch
(ix) Founding Members during registration of the party at the Electoral Commission
(x) all Party card bearing ministers
NPP will be electing the successor of President Nana Akufo-Addo on November 4, 2024 in all 275 constituencies across the country towards the 2024 general election.
The governing party has also scheduled to open nomination on 16th June and closed on 14th July, 2023, for the conduct of parliamentary primaries across all orphan constituencies or constituencies where the party do not have sitting Members of Parliament.
The elections in these constituencies are slated from August 1 to December 2, 2023.
This will be followed by the election of parliamentary candidates in 137 constituencies where the NPP has sitting MPs.
The party is scheduled to open and closed nomination from December 20, to January 4, 2024 with the primaries date slated on February 24, 2024.
The National Council has also approved detailed rules and regulations to govern the conduct of the party’s internal contest.
Meanwhile, the party has barred all National, Regional, Constituency Executives and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives from contesting the incumbent MPs.
Presidential hopefuls
About 10 people have so far directly or indirectly declared their intention to contest in the NPP presidential primaries.
They include Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Assin Central MP Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, former Trade and Industry Minister Alan Kyerematen, former Food and Agriculture Minister Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto and former NPP General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyapong.
The rest are former Minister of State Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, former Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko, former Minister for Railways Development Joe Ghartey, former MP for Mampong Francis Addai-Nimoh and Energy consultant Kwadwo Nsafoah Poku.
