The steering committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is proposing Saturday August 30 2014 for a special delegates conference to prune the number of presidential aspirants from seven to five as stipulated in the party’s constitution.
The steering committee made up of national officers is also proposing November 1, 2014 for the National Delegates’ Congress after the five have been settled on.
The National Executive Committee and the National Council of the Party will meet Wednesday to finalise proposals and arrangements for the ultimate election of a flagbearer at a national delegates conference.
Article 12 (5) B of the NPP’s constitution states that “where there are more than five contestants for nomination as the party’s Presidential candidate, a Special Electoral College shall cast their votes by secret ballot for the first five contestants to be shortlisted.”
The race for the party’s flagbearer race for the 2016 elections is set to draw along familiar lines, Nana Akufo Addo, two-time winner and his old political foe, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen.
Three other candidates, former Information Minister Stephen Asamoah Boateng, former Minister of Trade Kofi Konadu Apraku and the MP for Mampong Francis Addai Nimo are considered also-rans.
The proposed date for the Delegates Congress, November 1, 2014 could be seen as a compromised date after a December 6, 2014 peeved supporters of some candidates. They perceived this date gives more time to other aspirants especially Alan Kyerematen to campaign and chip away support for Nana Akufo-Addo.
