Kwesi Prat Junior, a respected Ghanaian journalist, has conveyed his astonishment regarding the New Patriotic Party’s methodology in selecting a running mate for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
He remarked that the party’s actions appear to diverge from its constitutional provisions, emphasizing a deviation from its traditional practices.
He noted that there are over 15 persons whose names have come up for the position.
“So many things have shocked me over the last couple of weeks about the New Patriotic Party’s adherence to its constitutional provisions on the selection of a running mate. First of all, there are approximately 15 or 16 who are being mentioned as possible running mates. They include all kinds of people…
“And then this morning we are being told that the party is actually going to choose a running mate, seek approval of the higher authority and then inform the presidential candidate. That again is also against the tradition. It has never happened in the party that way. It is a substantial break from tradition.”
Kwesi Prat Jr
His initial surprise stemmed from a news article where Madam Kate Gyamfua, the party’s Women’s Organizer, reportedly informed the media that the party executives had already selected a male running mate from the Ashanti region. This decision was purportedly communicated to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
“I found it very surprising and I want to assume that it’s possible she was misreported”, he said.
“If she was not misreported, then there are serious problems. At least the tradition of the NPP, is that the elected candidate choses his or her own running ate and submits it to the party for approval. I think that is the same process in the National Democratic Party and all of the other parties. I was wondering why in the case of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia that had changed. Why is that in the case of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia he cannot choose his own running mate and that a running mate must be imposed on him. So why is it happening in the case of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. I don’t know.”
Kwesi Prat Jnr
He therefore wondered what the future of Dr. Bawumia looked like as the leader of the party.
“Is he going to be his own man? Or he is going to be dictated to by his own people and so on? I was really confused”, he quizzed.
NPP To Constitutionally Permit More Consultation
In defense, Daniel Titus Nii Kwartei Glover, the Member of Parliament for Tema East, asserted that the NPP’s NEC meeting aligned with the constitution, providing ample room for the Presidential Candidate to engage in sufficient consultations for the selection of a running mate.
Citing Article 14(3) of the NPP Constitution, he contended that the national council could, under special circumstances, waive these requirements, including the nomination of a running mate 12 months before the general election.
“For all you know, that may be the purpose of that meeting because I know a lot of consultation is ongoing. Because in other to conform with these constitutional provisions, they need to have some mandate and extension so that the running mate search can be done more through, more consultations that need to be done.”
Daniel Titus Nii Kwartei Glover
He urged the public to avoid speculation, emphasizing that the Women’s Organizer’s statement does not represent the official stance of the NPP. Titus Glover suggested awaiting the appropriate forum for the decision to be made and assured that the party would communicate it to the Ghanaian people when the time is right.
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