The Herald, has picked up reports that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) national delegates’ conference to elect the party’s flagbearer for the 2024 Presidential elections scheduled for this year, could be postponed and even go into next year to protect the government.
This, the paper learnt, is because the ruling party, is divided over the implication of an early election, especially for the Akufo-Addo government.
The President is already struggling to do a simple reshuffle and has become very unpopular among the rank and file of the party.
The Parliamentary wing of the party, is said to be threatening fire and brimstone if Parliament resumes on February 7, without the dismissal of Ken Ofori-Atta from the Finance Ministry, and a shake-up in the government.
A number of those advocating the postponement are at the Presidency; The Jubilee House, but Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, is mentioned as the only odd one out; she wants an early conference.
While, those in favour of an early election of the party’s presidential candidate, want it done and dusted early enough to enable the party market the candidate well across the country, others habour the view that an early election, could spell doom for the Akufo-Addo government, because current appointees could abandon their responsibilities plunging the government into criticism.
Those who have shown interest in succeeding President Akufo-Addo, are the ex-Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, and the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto.
The seven other contenders are; the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; a former Minister of Energy, Boakye Agyarko; the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, and a former Presidential Spokesperson and General Secretary of the party, Kwabena Agyepong.
The rest are a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Joe Ghartey, who is also the MP for Essikado-Ketan; a former MP for Mampong, Francis Addai-Nimoh, and a former Minister of State, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, who is also a former MP for Offinso North.
The frontrunners are the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen.
Aside those, including Members of Parliament (MP) who will stay away from Parliament because they have been defeated at the Parliamentary primaries, government appointees would also leave their jobs and be chasing after the NPP presidential candidate in the name of campaign to catch his eye for appointment in a future administration.
Those in favour of an early conference, are also arguing that the performance of the government has been good enough putting the NPP in a difficult situation hence the party must organize the election early enough to embark on a vigorous campaign to retain power in 2024.
However, others believe that an early delegate’s conference will see a government which is already affected by the hung parliament in tatters. To this group, every means must be deplored to protect the government, because the party’s 2024 presidential candidate will be campaigning on its records.
Sometime last year, NPP in a statement said it has not reached a final agreement on when to conduct primaries for the election of presidential and parliamentary candidates for the 2024 polls.
This is contrary to the decision announced by the party’s National Council.
Reports attributed to the Council said the party has set November 2023 to elect its presidential candidate, January 2024 to elect parliamentary candidates for constituencies with sitting NPP MPs and April 2024 for constituencies without sitting NPP MPs.
But in a statement, the NPP said timelines in the above respect are yet to be concluded.
“The National Council of the NPP, at its last meeting, has NOT agreed on any conclusive timelines for the conduct of the Party’s presidential and parliamentary primaries ahead of the 2024 general elections”, the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua said in a statement.
It added; “the publication is therefore untrue and misleading”.
According to the NPP, the National Council meeting could not finalize discussions on some proposed dates for the conduct of the primaries.
Consequently, the National Council resolved to defer decision on the matter to allow for further stakeholder engagements in the interest of the party.
“It is thus expected that at its next meeting, the National Council may revisit this subject matter and hopefully take a definitive decision regarding the timelines for the conduct of the Party’s presidential and parliamentary primaries”, it assured.
Some Members of Parliament had proposed the party hold both presidential and parliamentary primaries on the same date to avoid acrimony.
