NPP to limit Presidential aspirants to three
By Abdul Salam Sule, Ghanadot

Accra, May 7, Ghanadot - After loosing the 2008 run-off elections, the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) promised to come out with some proposals to change the fortunes of the party in the 2012 general elections.

One of such proposals is the limitation of a number of presidential aspirants at the party's congress.

 According to a statement issued by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, only three shortlisted candidates would be allowed to contest the party's presidential slot.

It explained that, the idea was to avoid the rancour and division that manifested in the party's last congress for the election of its Presidential candidate where 17 candidates contested.

Many social commentators have however condemned the move by the party's national executive to allow only three candidates to contest on its presidential slot. They argued that, the proposal if approved by the party's delegates at the congress slated for July this year would defeat the aim of the NPP as a democratic party.

They have therefore suggested to the leadership of the party to rescind their decision and come out with an open one where any interested party member could filed and contest the presidential slot.

Meanwhile, Nana Ohene Ntow, the general secretary of the party has strongly defended the new proposal by the NEC.

Speaking to reporters in Accra, he pointed out the importance of the proposal which he said would create very good image for the party. He noted that, the 17 candidates who were allowed to contest the party's presidential primary in 2007 brought disunity and rancour which led to the defeat of the party.

"But with the new proposal, should there be any division, it would be only three and can easily be resolved", he said.

He further said, the basic aim of the New Patriotic Party is to win back power in 2012 and the party ought to put good mechanisms in place to ensure that a good product is produce at the end of the day.

Also, the National Executive Committee of the New Patriotic Party has proposed that, instead of only 2,000 delegates voting, 30,000 delegates would be given the chance to elect the Presidential candidate at the party's congress. This according to the party was to create the platform for all the party members to have a say in the election of the flagbearer , national, regional and constituency executives.

It is also to minimise the influence of money during the party's primary.