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NPP limits flagbearer aspirants to 5,
enlarges Electoral College
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot
Pictures and more stories
Accra, Aug 23, Ghanadot - The main
opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has made sweeping
constitutional amendments that limit flagbearer aspirants to
five, and enlarge its electoral
college.
However, the party opposes the appointment
of parliamentary aspirants
to the ticket of the
party instead of
electing them.
Some 1,490 accredited delegates put 48 constitutional
amendment proposals to vote with deliberations over key
proposals briefly torching off what correspondents described
as near-violence.
Perhaps the most controversial of the issues was the
proposal to restrict presidential aspirants to five. The
party’s leadership had earlier on presented three but that
was later increased to five.
The proposal attracted passionate comments from Minority
Leader Osei-Kyei Mensah-Bonsu who spoke strongly for it.
Mr Mensah-Bonsu, who lost his Tema West seat said although
there would be shades of opinion – leftists, radicals,
conservatives, centrists – they must all be geared towards a
better party framework.
“Let our discussions be issues-based and they would throw up
for us three (now five) contestants, instead of duplicating
efforts, wasting resources, and wasting our time,” he added.
The Electoral College of the party, mandated to screen and
select the five contestants for election by congress, was
also adjusted to a figure, party officials are yet to
confirm.
Deliberations over the proposals generated a heated debate
in which former Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive Mohammed
Amin Anta was attacked, reporters at the highly charged
Ghana International Trade Fair Centre, where the congress
took place have disclosed.
Mr Anta was speaking for the motion to expand the
electoral college of the party but stressed there
ought to be no
seal on the number of flagbearer aspirants.
Police eventually cordoned off the podium at the centre of
the auditorium where delegates presented positions on
proposals.
Although there were earlier reports that the Greater Accra
Regional delegates of the party had boycotted proceedings,
Chairman Sammy Crabbe said his members only registered their
displeasure at developments that were thought to be
unhealthy for the unity of the party.
He had been objecting to the party’s use of voice voting
because the constitution of the NPP stipulates that all
amendments must be approved by a two-thirds majority.
Mr Crabbe noted that voice voting was not appropriate
because a two-thirds majority could not be determined by
voice.
The congress started with speeches from the bigwigs of the
party – Chairman Peter Mac Manu, Minority Leader
Mensah-Bonsu and ex-President Kufuor – all of whom
essentially preached unity as the party heads for the 2012
elections.
Ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor in his address dispelled
notions that he belonged to a faction within the party, and
urged members to rally behind leadership to reclaim power in
the 2012 general elections.
The former president, who described himself as a
“thorough-bred NPP [member],” said such speculations
for the notion that he belonged to a
faction within the party were unfounded.
“I have no faction and indeed do not want any faction
within the
party,” he added.
Ghanadot
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