Apraku, Osei-Ameyaw Pick Forms To Contest NPP Presidential Primary

Since the New Patriotic Party (NPP) opened nominations for its presidential primary last Friday, the media has turned its attention to the NPP headquarters to capture aspirants trooping in to pick nomination forms.

So far, there is little fanfare, as party sources told the Daily Graphic that two aspirants had sent emissaries to pick their forms.
They are Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, presidential aspirant in 2008, and Mr Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, the MP for Asuogyaman.

The front runners, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who was the 2008 and 2012 presidential candidate of the party, and Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, are yet to pick their forms.

The Director of Finance and Administration at the NPP headquarters, Mr Edward Tetteh, who is issuing the nominations forms, would not confirm any aspirant who had picked up forms so far, but told the Daily Graphic that his outfit was “compiling the names of those who have come forward and will at the right time make the list available to Ghanaians.”

At a meeting held last Friday in Accra, the party’s second highest decision-making body, the National Council (NC), decided that pursuant to Article 12 of the NPP’s Constitution, the nominations for the party’s presidential primary for the 2016 general election would open on Friday, June 6, 2014, and close on July 7, 2014.

It was the first meeting of the NC, since the new national executive members, under the Chairmanship of Mr Paul Awentami Afoko, were elected.

The nomination fee, approved by the NC, is GH¢10,000 and the filing fee is GH¢75,000.

Further to Article 17 of the party’s constitution, a set of guidelines, rules and regulations for the 2014 presidential primary was also approved by the National Council.

According to the General Secretary of the party, Mr Kwabena Agyepong, potential aspirants may pick nomination forms from the party headquarters at Asylum Down in Accra.

He said December 6, 2014, had tentatively been agreed upon as the date for the election of the presidential candidate of the party.

The constitution of the party mandates the party, when in opposition, to open nominations six months before the presidential primary and two years before the general election.

The National Council would reconvene on June 19, 2014 to deliberate on other matters relating to the primary.

Already, the contest is becoming intriguing as the camps of various aspirants are on the field canvassing for votes.