The New Patriotic Party has conducted balloting for its presidential candidates ahead of the November 4, 2023, National Delegate Conference.

The balloting was conducted by the party’s Presidential Election Committee in collaboration with officials from the Electoral Commission of Ghana at the party’s headquarters on Wednesday 13 September 2023.

At the end of the balloting, the Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong picked number one while the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia picked ballot number two.

Former Minister for Agriculture Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto picked the third number while former Member of Parliament for Mampong, Francis Addai Nimo picked the fourth number.

According to a statement signed by the Secretary to the Presidential Election Committee of the party, Mr. William Yamoah, the Election Committee by consensus has settled on the modalities for the November 4, 2023, presidential election.

The Election Committee also indicated that it would later release the details of the agreed guidelines and modalities for the November 4 presidential election.

Reacting to the news, the Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong described his position as a sign of victory and emphasized that he will continue to engage the rank and file of the party, especially the grassroots to ensure he achieves victory on November 4, 2023.

The contest was initially made up of 10 aspirants and after Saturday, 26 September 2023 Super Delegate Congress it was reduced to 6 and subsequently reduced to 4 due to the withdrawal of Mr. Boakye Agyarko and later the former minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen.

Mr Alan Kyerematen cited factors such as intimidation, violence against a member of his campaign team, and the way the party deliberately planned the Super Delegates Congress to favour one candidate over the others as reasons for his withdrawal from the party’s presidential election.

Mr Kyerematen also claimed that statements made by several influential party members both before and after the elections also backed his reservations.

Leading Members of Alan Campaign Team Declare Their Support For Bawumia

A few days after the withdrawal of Mr Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen from the New Patriotic Party presidential race, key members of his campaign team started declaring their support to the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

The latest among them is the former Minister of Creative Art, Culture and Tourism and Member of Parliament for Evalue Gwira, Catherine Afeku and Member of Parliament for Bortianor -Ngleshie Amanflo, Sylvester Tetteh.

According to Sylvester Tetteh, his decision was as a result of the withdrawal of Mr. Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen from the party’s presidential election.

The New Patriotic Party is expected to hold its National Delegates Conference on November 4 to elect its flagbearer for the 2024 general elections.