NPP’s 2016 Slot: Posters Are Out

The race for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearership slot has begun, even before the national executives have announced the opening of nominations.

One of the surprise entrants in the 2016 flagbearership race, 49-year-old civil engineer, Mr. Francis Addai-Nimoh, has started pasting his posters around. Underneath the King Tackie overpass in Accra is one, with his picture; the NPP logo and the inscription – ‘NPP, IT IS OUR TIME.’

Before entering Parliament in 2009, the NPP MP for Mampong, Mr. Addai-Nimoh was a senior engineer at the Ministry of Transportation. He was also the managing director of Franstan Limited. He is married with three children.

Other leading members of the NPP who have expressed interest in competing for the slot are Nana Akufo-Addo; Alan Kyeremanten; Prof. Frimpong-Boaten; Dr. Kofi Apraku ; Asamoah Boateng; Isaac Osei; Joe Ghartey; Osei Ameyaw and Dr. Richard Anane.

A leading member of the NPP, Brig-General J. Odei hinted of a conspiracy to deny Nana Akufo-Addo, the third chance to lead the NPP into the 2016 elections.

According to the retired General, the main plank of the conspiracy is to let more than five persons file nominations to contest for 2016 slot. Once the number exceeds five, the NPP will have to have a mini-election, (of about 600 delegates) to elect the top five aspirants to face the 145,000 delegates who would vote simultaneously in all the 10 regions.

In a widely circulated article, Gen. (rtd) Odei had this to say about some of the persons who have indicated their interest in the NPP’s slot.

“Some of the people who intend to file know they cannot win but for the purpose of mischief, they are delighted to be part of the scheme to deny Nana Addo, the third chance to represent the party.”

The NPP has announced a June 6, 2013 opening of nominations and that the Party’s flagbearer for 2016 should be elected by December 6, 2014.

There have been suggestions the Party should charge a nomination fee of GH75, 000 but it is expected to settle for GH50, 000. The filing fee for the 2010 flagbearership election to elect the NPP’s 2012 flagbearer was GH25, 000.