NPP mulls unity talks to consolidate candidacy in Ejisu by-election
The move is to encourage unity within the party by persuading some candidates to withdraw their candidacy
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Ejisu is actively engaging potential candidates who have shown interest in contesting in the upcoming parliamentary primary.
The move is to encourage unity within the party by persuading some candidates to withdraw their candidacy.
This move comes after the constituency chairman, Kofi Ampofo Agyapong, who initially declared his intention to contest, retracted his decision, aligning with the party’s efforts to streamline the nomination process.
The Ashanti regional chairman of the NPP Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka ‘Wontumi’, has defended this action and maintains that the decision is in the best interest of the party.
“Big party like NPP, there are a lot of people who want to serve. When our precious MP [John Kumah] joined ancestors, a lot of people in this constituency thought that it will be appropriate for them to also step in. So that they can bring everybody together to serve the NPP in Ashanti region and the and Ejisu constituency”, Wontumi told the press on Tuesday (2 April).
“At the moment we are united. We talked to the constituency chairman to rescind his decision to contest after he shown interest. We advised him to help the organization of the elections and the 2024 general elections.” he said.
Seven aspirants wasted no time as they seized the opportunity on the opening day of nominations, and successfully obtained their forms, ahead of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) primary at Ejisu in the Ashanti Region.
The party is searching for a candidate to replace the late MP Dr John Kumah who passed on 7 March 2024.
Supporters flocked to the Ejisu NPP office to rally their preferred aspirant as they purchased nomination forms from the election committee chaired by Danquah Smith Buttey, the national first vice chairman of the party.
The likes of Kwasi Nyantakyi, a former Ghana FA president, lawyer Kwabena Boateng, a second vice chairman of the NPP in Ejisu and Helena Mensah have all picked nomination forms.
The others are; Lawyer Portia Baffoe Abronye, Dr Evans Duah, Pokuaa Boitey and Klinsman Karikari Mensah. All the aspirants are confident of being placed on the ballot as nomination closes on Thursday (4 April).
New Patriotic Party’s national first vice-chair, Danquah Smith Buttey, also explained the modalities of the exercise.
“Our noble MP is gone, and we need somebody who will replace him in Parliament. Therefore, in our constitution, when somebody pass on, we open nominations for those who are interested in the constituency to pick forms. After the picking, they will submit, and we do vetting, and then we will do elections. This morning, I came here to open nominations. Nomination forms is GHC3,000, when you are coming to submit it, you pay GHC35,000”, he said.
Reporting By Jonathan Ofori and Bright Yeboah, Ashanti Region
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