The Canada branch of the NPP has added its voice to calls by some members of the party for an early congress to elect the presidential and parliamentary candidates for the 2024 general elections.
Even though members calling for the early congress have not put a timeline for the congress, the Executive Committee of the Canada branch wants the congress to be held in August 2023.
It believes an early congress will be beneficial to the current government in the implementation of its policies and programmes without distraction stemming from the internal contest.
The call comes ahead of the meetings between the Steering Committee, National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Council tomorrow.
Making a case
In statement signed by the Branch Secretary, Samuel Yaw Asirifi, the group argued that with an early congress being help in August 2023, there will be enough time for the next presidential candidate to select his running mate, set up his campaign team, reenergize the base of the party and mobilize resources for the 2024 election campaign.
“Considering the fact that the next Presidential candidate is going to be entirely new, the Party requires enough time to sell his vision to the Ghanaian voting population and all stakeholders in the political ecosystem. Therefore, an early congress will give the Party enough timeframe to project and market the next Presidential candidate, as well as the Parliamentary candidates contesting on the ticket of the Party in the various constituencies,” it said.
The branch is of the view that to remain united to be able to break the eight, an early congress will make it possible for the national executives to deal with an internal conflict, especially, among supporters of opposing candidates for both Presidential and Parliamentary.
“We believe that an early congress shall give the New Patriotic Party enough time and opportunity to set up reconciliatory committees at the national and constituency levels to address the internal conflicts and build bridges between losing and winning candidates in the Presidential and Parliamentary primaries respectively,” it added.
“We strongly believe that having both the Presidential and Parliamentary primaries concurrently will reduce animosities and prevent any form of victimization from the camp of the next Presidential candidate to any of the Parliamentary aspirants that may be perceived to have not supported their bids to lead the national party for the 2024 elections,” it continued.
Tailing the opposition
Beyond the aforementioned, the Branch pointed out that an early congress will present a level field for the party’s “candidate to build the momentum and engage the next opposition leader in matters of national interest.”
