Events

 

News Page
In This Issue...Links to the NewsMarch 11, 2016

 

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 electi
ng 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



 


 

Google

 
Web www.ghanadot.com

NPP limits flagbearer aspirants to 5, enlarges Electoral College

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.
.... More

 

NPP family must stay united - Ex-prez Kufuor tells delegates

Accra, Aug 22, Ghanadot - The former president of the Republic of Ghana, John Agyekum Kufuor, a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has urged the 1,490 accredited delegates and the NPP family to stay united to enable the party win the 2012 general election.
..More
 
The 75th year anniversary exhibition of Prof. Ablade Glover

Accra, Aug 21, Ghanadot - One of Ghana’s foremost and top best known painters in Africa, Professor Ablade Glover celebrated his 75th birthday at the Artists Alliance Gallery in Accra last week.
.. .More

Miss Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), I presume?

Commentary, Aug 22, Ghanadot - I am inclined to think that Ms. Sheila Jackson Lee does not understand the meaning of democracy. Either that or her claim of Jerry John Rawlings as the father of Ghana’s democracy is a delusional statement.....More

  ABC, Australia
FOXNews.com
The EastAfrican, Kenya
African News Dimensions
Chicago Sun Times
The Economist
Reuters World
CNN.com - World News
All Africa Newswire
Google News
The Guardian, UK
Africa Daily
IRIN Africa
The UN News
Daily Telegraph, UK
Daily Nation, East Africa
BBC Africa News, UK
Legal Brief Africa
The Washington Post
BusinessInAfrica
Mail & Guardian, S. Africa
The Washington Times
ProfileAfrica.com
Voice of America
CBSnews.com
New York Times
Vanguard, Nigeria
Christian Science Monitor
News24.com
Yahoo/Agence France Presse
 
  SPONSORSHIP AD HERE  
 
    Announcements
Debate
Commentary
Ghanaian Papers
Health
Market Place
News
Official Sites
Pan-African Page
Personalities
Reviews
Social Scene
Sports
 
    Currency Converter
Educational Opportunities
Job Opening
FYI
 
 

 
Send This Page To A Friend:

The Profile Africa Media Group