A former minister of Trade and Industry under president Kufuor, Alan John Kwadwo Kyeremanteng will pick nomination forms from the NPP headquarters before the end of this week, his spokesperson Nana Ohene Ntow has disclosed to the paper.
He said Alan is going to contest the upcoming NPP presidential primaries and assured his supporters who are asking when Mr Kyeremanteng will pick his nomination forms to remain calm. Mr. Alan Kyerematen, in 2007 picked and filed his nomination documents 72 hours after the official opening of nominations by the party.
Even though Nana Ohene Ntow did not disclose the specific day within the week, he confirmed that Alan would certainly picked the nomination forms this week. The former General Secretary also revealed that there is intense pressure on Alan Kyerematen not to contest the party’s primaries but stated that would contestant in the primaries which is slated for December 6, 2014. Nana Ohene Ntow disclosed that “There have been a lot of calls for Alan not to run in these particular primaries” but pointed out that such calls are unusual in the NPP.
He stressed that Alan Kyeremateng would work hard to convince delegates why he is the best candidate for NPP in 2016. Nana Ohene Ntow also said Alan believes very strongly that with him as candidate; NPP has a better chance of winning 2016. Meanwhile, pollster Ben Ephson is predicting victory for Nana Akufo-Addo should more people contest the presidential slot.
Mr Epson insisted that Nana Akufo-Addo would only face a competitive election if other contestants withdrew from the race and throw their weight behind one person against him (Nana Akufo-Addo) who already has about 40 percent of delegates’ votes, Ben Ephson said. Nana Addo in a handshake with NPP Chairman, Paul Afoko after picking his forms.
In another development the chairman of the New Patriotic Party’s constitutional committee, Ayikoi Otoo, is predicting the party’s presidential primary will go through a special electoral college. His presumption is grounded on the increasing passion for the party’s presidential slot as many party bigwigs pick nomination forms.
The NPP opened its nomination on June 6, and so far five people have picked forms. They are Asuogyaman MP Kofi Ameyaw Osei, former Trade Minister Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, party’s two times presidential candidate Nana Akufo-Addo, former Information Minister Stephen Asamoah Boateng and Member of Parliament for Mampong, Francis Addai Nimoh.
Party members such Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Joe Ghartey and Isaac Osei have indicated their interest, are yet to pick nomination forms. The party expanded its electoral college after 17 personalities paraded themselves for election at the party’s presidential primary in 2007. The sheer number was condemned by the general public and Mr. Otoo believes it was “a little unworthy and created the impression that just anybody could pick forms.”
The party subsequently amended its constitution limiting the number of persons allowed to contest under the system to five. However, when more than five people expressed interest to lead the party, a special electoral college ought to be organised, by secret balloting, to whittle the number down to five, Ayikoi Otoo explained. “The way we are going, with the list that you are mentioning, it is likely that we will go beyond the five.
If we do then we must have to go through the special Electoral College,” he told Joy News’ Evans Mensah. Going for an Electoral College would be “time consuming”, Mr Ayikoi Otoo acknowledged. The special congress has to be done before a date could be fixed for the expanded college, which should all be done 24 months before the national elections.
Persons eligible to cast their vote at the special congress include national and regional executive committee members, national council of elders, Members of Parliament, few representatives of special organs of the party, past national officers, external branches, and founding members.