NPP aspirants ready for super delegates conference today
The ten aspirants of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and their surrogates are crisscrossing the country in a desperate final push to woe delegates ahead of the super delegates conference on Saturday, August 26.
The conference is expected to trim the 10 aspirants to the best five for a presidential candidate to be elected to represent the party in the 2024 election.
Nine hundred and fifty-five delegates are expected to cast their ballots in 17 voting centers across the country.
The Electoral Commission is also entrusted with the responsibility to conduct the polls.
As the 10 aspirants – Kennedy Agyapong, Alan Kyerematen, Joe Ghartey, Kwadwo Poku, Dr Afriyie Akoto, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, Addai Nimo, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, Kyeremateng Agyarko and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia try to win delegates before the final day with their various campaign messages, there are concerns of machinations to ensure the results tilt in favour of some aspirants.
There were also concerns about the party having an ‘establishment candidate’ of which President Akufo-Addo is alleged to have coerced delegates to support the said candidate.
But the president rejected the allegations.
At a meeting with communicators of the party at the Jubilee House on Wednesday, August 2, he said there was no single person in the party who can say he (President Akufo-Addo) has asked him or her to support Dr Bawumia.
The President was emphatic that he had no intention of imposing anyone on the party.
Meanwhile, on the ballot, popular NPP firebrand and Member of Parliament, Kennedy Agapong appears first, followed by Alan Kyerematen in the second position.
Essikado-Ketan MP Joe Ghartey comes in at number three, Kwadwo Poku at number four, while Dr Afriyie Akoto will take the fifth position.
Also, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong will be sixth on the ballot, Addai Nimo takes the seventh slot followed by Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku at number eight.
Mr. Kyerematen is at number nine and lastly, the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is at number 10.
Ahead of the conference, the Director of Elections for the NPP, Evans Nimako says the party is committed to a free and fair election.
According to him, the party has had a very constructive engagement with aspirants, adding that “we are hoping to have a very successful electoral conference.”
He urged the aspirants to do away with baseless accusations and focus on the positives of the exercise.
“We are not aware of any camping, the delegates of this special electoral college are senior members of this party. We are looking at members of parliament, sector ministers, regional ministers, external brand delegates, founding members among others – who will have the clout to put together all these delegates as a way of camping them to influence their voting?
“At this point, we want you to look at the positives of the whole exercise,” he said.
