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Friday, March 11, 2016

Leading members of NPP express mixed reaction on Congress date
Audrey Micah, Ghanadot

Accra, March 24, Ghanadot - While leading members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) think going to Congress early is suicidal to the party's chance of becoming the next government by 2012 others believe the election of a flag bearer by the end of 2009 is the best way forward.

Some of the members have even suggested a constitutional amendment to drive home their point.

According to the first Finance Minster to be appointed in the Kufuor Administration, Mr Osafo Marfo, going on early congress will help the party to really prepare well for election 2012.

He said, the NPP’s constitution has two defined dates for congresses – one when in government and the other when in opposition.

Mr. Osafo Marfo remarked that per the provision of the constitution, when in government, congress should be held in 11 months but when in opposition “not later than” 24 months after elections 11 months.

He therefore noted that the argument of ‘early congress’ and ‘late congress’ should be discredited because the party regardless of differing views will always work according to its constitution.

The former Finance Minister said it was always better to go to congress early so the party will have ample time to market its flag bearer.

“We at the moment have some constitutional house keeping to do” which according to him will make it impossible to hold elections before the first quarter of 2010.

To him, there was a need for the party to find out why they had lost the elections; the need to heed calls for a constitutional amendment and also the need to hold elections at the polling station, constituency, regional and national levels.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Okere constituency, Dan Botwe said suggestions for the change of date constituted “just opinions” adding that the decision on the date of the Congress was determined only by the party’s constitution.

According to him, he was “unhappy that people want to start a debate to elect a flag bearer early. It’s absolutely unnecessary”

He added that the constitutional provision which stipulated that elections be held in December of 2010 needed to be respected and upheld.

Ghanadot




 

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