The governing New Patriotic Party(NPP), has slated November 2023 for its congress to elect a flagbearer, who will lead it into the 2024 polls.
This decision was arrived at, after a crunched closed-door meeting of the National Council of the party on Monday evening, at Alisa Hotel in Accra.
The decision is in line with Article 12 of the party’s election guidelines on electing a presidential candidate. It states that “The election of the Party’s Presidential Candidate shall be held not later than twenty-four (24) months from the date of the national election. The date and venue for the election shall be decided by the National Council, provided, however, that the National Council may, on an appropriate occasion, vary the date…”
Clause 2 of the article further indicates that “Not later than six (6) months prior to the holding of the election, the General Secretary shall give a notice inviting applications from Members for nomination, as the Party’s candidate to contest for the office of the President of the Republic.
The Notice shall be displayed in a conspicuous place in the Party’s Constituency, Regional and National Offices and shall specify the closing date for application, which shall not be more than five (5) months to the holding of the election…”
Meanwhile, there will be a special Congress that will be held in August ahead of the flagbearer elections.
NPP Parliamentary Primaries To Be Held On February 2024
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) will open nominations for the upcoming Parliamentary Elections on February 24, 2024, the party’s General Secretary announced late Monday, March 3.
In a statement posted on Justin Kodua Frimpong’s official Facebook timeline, nominations will open on December 20, 2023, and close on January 4, 2024. The decision is in line with the party’s election guidelines as enshrined in Article 11 (2) of its constitution.
It states that “…. The selection of Parliamentary Candidates shall be advertised for 18 months before the date of the National election provided that it shall be advertised for 1 (one) month in the Constituency. Parliamentary Candidates shall be elected at least twelve (12) months before the national general election. For the avoidance of doubt, the National Executive Committee shall have the power to determine separate dates for elections in a constituency where the Party has sitting Members of Parliament. A member applying for nomination as the Party’s Parliamentary Candidate should be a known and active member for at least two (2) years provided that, in appropriate cases, the National Executive Committee, in consultation with the Regional and Constituency Executives, may dispense with the requirement. d) A member applying for nomination as the Party’s Parliament Candidate for any Constituency, shall be a registered member and a voter in the Constituency, which he or she seeks to represent, provided that, in appropriate cases, the National Executive Committee, in consultation with the Regional and Constituency Executives, may dispense with the requirement….”
Candidates interested in contesting the elections on the NPP ticket, can obtain the nomination forms from the party’s office by paying a fee of GHC3,000.
The filing fees for the Parliamentary Elections, have been fixed at GHC35,000. Additionally, each candidate will be required to pay a development fee of GHC 40,000.
Meanwhile, the party expects all interested candidates to adhere to the guidelines and procedures laid down by the party’s constitution.
The NPP has been in power for the last two terms and is seeking to retain its majority in Parliament. The upcoming Parliamentary Elections are expected to be closely contested, and the NPP is leaving no stone unturned in its preparations. With the nominations now open, the race for the NPP’s ticket is expected to heat up.
READ ALSO: We Must Work Towards An NDC Victory- Haruna Iddrisu After Subjecting Himself To Vetting By The NDC
