The leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has directed party stalwarts to stop throwing money around in the name of lessening financial burden on those aspiring to be polling station executives and electoral area coordinators of the ruling party.
According to the National Chairman, Freddie Blay, those desirous of financially supporting the impending election at the polling stations should do so by channeling the resources through the national secretariat for uniformity, fairness and accountability.
The directive comes after media reports that Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen, has reportedly paid nearly GHc2 million for nomination forms for all NPP members aspiring for polling station executives and electoral area coordinators elections in all the 275 constituencies across the country.
The Trade Minister is hopeful of leading the NPP in 2024 as its Presidential candidate and appears ready to do anything.
According to a report by The Chronicle, the Trade and Industry Minister, nicknamed “Alan Cash” paid a whooping sum of GHc1, 931,100 for the 38,622 polling stations as each form cost GHC10. At each polling station, 5 people are reportedly contesting.
It is unclear if the Vice-President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who is also seeking to succeed incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo, is also at some of these schemes since his side has not yet been heard at least publicly dishing out money.
But aside from Mr Kyeremateng, the party’s Ashanti regional chairman Bernard Antwi Bosiako, alias “Chairman Wontumi” is also reported to be funding nomination forms in that region meaning the region is receiving two sponsorships from different sources.
The Regional Chairman is seeking re-election but is facing some still opposition from party members who insist that his chairman has not yielded dividends as the fortunes of the NPP keeps declining with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) increasing its numbers and winning seats lost in the 2016 election.
Although some hold the view that these sponsorships will lessen financial burdens on the aspirants as well as grassroots leaders, many rather see it as an attempt to buy the aspirants who will be electing a presidential candidate for the ruling party in some time next year for the 2024 general election.
In the case of orphan constituencies Mr Kyerematen is said to have paid for both the nomination forms and the cost of the passport pictures of the aspiring polling station executives.
But, at an emergency press conference at the NPP headquarters in Accra, late yesterday, Monday, February 21, Mr Blay advised that any such matters relating to financial support in this process must be channeled through the National Party Secretariat for uniformity, fairness and accountability.
“Further to this, it is also reported that some leading personalities have procured application forms for aspiring polling station executives. The party wish to advise that any such matters relating to financial support in this process must be channeled through the National Party Secretariat for uniformity, fairness and accountability,” Mr Blay said.
Below is his full statement he presented at the press conference…
EMERGENCY PRESS STATEMENT BY THE PARTY BY THE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN
Good evening ladies and gentlemen of the media. You are once again welcome to the headquarters of the New Patriotic Party.
We invited you here today to speak to some issues in the ongoing Polling Station Executives and Electoral Area Coordinators Elections of our Party.
First and foremost, the process of election of Polling Station Executives commenced from Saturday, February 19, 2022 with Opening of Nominations and Closing on Monday, February 21, 2022. Per an earlier release by the General Secretary, vetting of prospective aspirants will be from Tuesday, February 22, 2022 and ends on Thursday, February 24, 2022. Subsequent to this will be the conduct of the Polling Station Election from Friday, February 25, 2022 and ends on Saturday, March 5, 2022.
The Party has been monitoring this process keenly since it stated. Notwithstanding all the adequate preparations to ensure a smooth process in this election, there has been reports of pockets of incidence happening in some of the constituencies. A few are Kade Constituency, Manhyia North, Bosome Freho, Ninmgo Prampram amongst others.
There are also videos of disturbances being circulated on social media platforms as a result of purported instances where party people have been denied access to buying of the polling station application forms.
The party wish to emphasize that it has made available, adequate nominations forms to the Polling Stations/ Electoral Area Elections Committees, which are the mandated Committees for the conduct of the Polling Stations and Electoral Areas Elections in the 38,622 Polling Stations across the country.
The National Leadership of the Party, is per this press conference, directing all Polling Stations/ Electoral Area Elections Committees to make available the application forms to all eligible party members who wish to partake in this polling station elections. It is also assuring all eligible members that the party will take steps to ensure that application forms are made available to them.
With immediate effect, the party is also dispatching officers to reported areas of disturbances for fact-finding and investigations, and where necessary, disciplinary sanctions will be applied.
Further to this, it is also reported that some leading personalities have procured application forms for aspiring polling station executives. The party wish to advise that any such matters relating to financial support in this process must be channeled through the National Party Secretariat for uniformity, fairness and accountability.
Ladies and gentlemen of the Press, on this note, the National Party has decided to extend the sale of the Polling Station Application Forms by one day, that is, tomorrow, Tuesday, February 22, 2022. It is also by this press conference directing all Polling Station and Electoral Area Elections Committees to comply with the new extension.
Thank you for your attention.
Long live the NPP
Long live Mother Ghana
—Signed—
Hon. Freddie Blay
National Chairman, NPP
