NPP internal elections: 9-Member committee to develop manual

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has constituted a nine-member Ad-Hoc Committee to develop a comprehensive manual outlining the specific roles and responsibilities of party officers at all levels. 

Under the Chairmanship of Peter Mac Manu, the other members include Osei Bonsu Amoah, as Deputy Chairman; Enoch Anhwere Afoakwah, member/secretary; Henry Nana Boakye; Anthony Namoo; Haruna Mohammed; Justina Marigold Assan; Amma Frimpomaa Dwumah and Joana Addah.

A statement issued in Accra and signed by its General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, also outlined a comprehensive set of revised guidelines on its forthcoming internal elections.

Emergency NEC

It said the decisions were taken at an emergency NEC meeting last Wednesday.

It urged all stakeholders to familiarise themselves with the revised guidelines and to adhere strictly to their provisions.

“These adjustments are aimed at strengthening internal democracy, enhancing transparency and ensuring a smooth, credible and inclusive electoral process across all levels of the party.

“The leadership remains committed to working collaboratively with all members to uphold the values and traditions of the New Patriotic Party,” it stated.

Disputed polling stations

The statement said that where a polling station elections committee was unable to conduct elections due to concerns by party members, including those who registered online but were denied access to write their names in the polling station membership register, the committee shall suspend the elections at that polling station and refer the matter to the Regional Steering Committee through the Constituency Executive Committee for appropriate direction.

It said each Polling Station Elections Committee shall conduct up to 25 Polling Station Executives’ elections.

“In cluster polling stations, any member who votes in any of the polling stations within the cluster shall be eligible to contest in the polling station elections in any polling station within the cluster, provided he/she resides within the electoral area in which the polling station is situated,” it stated. 

Eligibility to Contest

The statement said a person shall be eligible to contest in the polling station elections only if he/she resides in the electoral area where the polling station was located and votes at that polling station.

It said in polling stations situated in security zones, tertiary institutions, government ministries, market centres, hospitals or similar areas, “a member shall be eligible to contest as long as he/she resides within the electoral area in which the polling station is situated.”

It said an Electoral Area Elections Committee shall conduct up to 10 Electoral Area Executive elections.

The party said Polling Station Officers who wish to contest in the Electoral Area Executive elections must resign from their positions before filing their nominations.

It also outlined the guidelines for the conduct of chapter and branch elections, as well as the positions to be contested and the offices that required appointment.

Background

In an earlier memorandum signed by the general secretary of the NPP, the party officially set its internal electoral machinery in motion by deploying a high-powered team of regional representatives to supervise the upcoming polling station and electoral area elections.

It tasked officials with ensuring the integrity of the grassroots polls across all 16 regions.

The deployment aims to decentralise oversight and ensure that the party’s foundational elections are conducted with the highest credibility.

The commencement of the polling station and electoral area coordinators also marks the height of the contest for various national party positions.

This is because candidates will be seeking to secure votes from polling stations, electoral coordinators, and constituency and regional executive votes.

Mandate

Under the approved guidelines, the assigned regional representatives hold a three-fold mandate of supervising the conduct of the elections and acting on behalf of the regional steering committees, collaborating with Constituency Executive Committees to appoint members of the Polling Station Elections Committees and ensuring strict adherence to electoral guidelines, maintaining transparency and providing timely reports on any irregularities.