NPP elects flag-bearer on November 4

The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has confirmed that it will elect its presidential candidate for the 2024 general election in November, as reported by Asaase News in December 2022.

The party has also confirmed that it will conduct parliamentary primaries to elect candidates for constituencies where it has sitting MPs in February 2024.

A statement issued by the NPP General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, said that the party will hold a special conference on 26 August 2023 if there are more than five presidential aspirants.

That special conference will reduce the number to a maximum of five candidates.

The front-runners

The immediate past minister of trade, Alan Kyerematen, and most recent minister of agriculture, Owusu Afriyie Akoto, resigned from the Akufo-Addo-led cabinet in January and have already set their campaigns to lead the party in motion in the build-up to the 2024 elections.

Kyerematen and Dr Afriyie Akoto are likely to face off with Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, who is yet officially to announce his bid to succeed President Akufo-Addo, although handlers say that he will run for the NPP flagbearership.

Other candidates in the race are the MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong; Kwabena Agyei Agyepong (KAA), a former presidential spokesperson and NPP general secretary; and the former attorney-general and minister of justice Joe Ghartey, who is also the MP for Essikado-Ketan.

Also in the running are a former MP for Mampong, Francis Addai-Nimoh, and the former minister of state Kofi Konadu Apraku, who is also a former MP for Offinso North.

Below is the statement outlining the dates for the NPP primaries:

NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP) APPROVES TIMELINES FOR PRESIDENTIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY PRIMARIES

The New Patriotic Party, at its National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Council meetings held on Monday, April 3, 2023, approved the timelines for holding presidential and parliamentary primaries of the Party for the 2024 general elections.
The approved timelines are as follows:

PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES
Opening of Nomination – 26th May, 2023
Closing of Nomination -24th June, 2023
Special Electoral College Elections (if any) -26th August, 2023
National Congress-4th November, 2023

PARLIAMENTARY PRIMARIES

a. ORPHAN CONSTITUENCIES
Opening of Nominations -16th June, 2023
Closing of Nominations-14th July, 2023
Elections – from 1st August to 2nd December, 2023

b. CONSTITUENCIES WITH SITTING MPs
Opening of Nominations -20th December, 2023
Closing of Nominations-4th January, 2024
Elections-24th February, 2024

The National Council further barred National, Regional, Constituency Party Executives and MMDCEs from contesting in Constituencies where the Party has sitting Members of Parliament.

The Party has also approved detailed Rules and Regulations to govern the conduct of both the presidential and parliamentary primaries which would be made available to the public in due course.

…Signed…..
JUSTIN KODUA FRIMPONG
GENERAL SECRETARY

 

Souce: AsaaseRadio