NPP to discipline errant officers, members

The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu, has reiterated that per the party’s rules and regulations, no interested party member should be denied access to nomination forms in the ongoing internal elections.

Addressing press conference yesterday, Mr Boadu, however, said the issues regarding polling station elections had been blown out of proportion on the social media.

He also condemned the pockets of disturbances and ugly scenes witnessed in some constituencies, saying the process across the country was largely successful. He said out of the 263 constituencies where polling station primaries were held, only 15 witnessed such worrying developments.

The NPP General Secretary also pointed out that the party was conducting investigations in these constituencies, and would order a re-run of the polling station elections in the affected constituencies, where the situation so demands.

Touching on the specific case of the disturbances witnessed at Fomena, for instance, he maintained that the party takes serious view of this gross misconduct, which is not only reprehensible but an affront to the dignity and existence of the party.

Disciplinary measures

Disturbances were similarly recorded at Manhyia, in the Ashanti Region, and some parts of the Western Region, upsetting the sanctity of the otherwise orderly processes. That compelled the General Secretary to stamp his authority. He said the party was taking immediate steps to expel all the persons behind this ungodly act from the party through due process.

Mr Boadu pointed out that the party had not yet decided on the modalities for holding polling station elections in Fomena and the other nine constituencies where polling station primaries were suspended.

“So, in Fomena, for instance, the party is yet to take a decision on the date of opening nomination, date of vetting, date of publication of vetting results, and date of holding the polling station elections in that constituency. This would be done and communicated in due course. That being the case, the party certainly did not and could not have sent Nomination Forms to Fomena for the conduct of the elections.

“We also did not hand over all such Forms to the Independent Member of Parliament, as alleged, which then erroneously formed the basis for the disturbances witnessed at the constituency, including the painting of the party office with NDC colours. All those behind this untoward act will be dealt with severely,” he stressed.

Resolving conflict

He explained that in the event of unnecessary frustrations by election committees, the aggrieved member has a right, through a petition, to purchase Nomination Form at the regional or national secretariat of the party.

The NPP General Secretary said the party made adequate preparations for the exercise, adding that at least 25 Nomination Forms were sent to each polling station across the country.

“The argument cannot be one of shortage of Nomination Forms, but the desire on the part of some party officers and members to honour these rules and regulations in breach rather than in observance. The party has also commissioned internal investigative processes in respect of these disturbances and all persons found culpable shall be disciplined in accordance with the Party’s regulations,” he noted.

Election dates

With the party’s polling station elections almost over, it is expected to continue with its electoral area and constituency executives’ elections. They will be followed by regional and national executives’ elections.

Mr Boadu announced that the electoral area elections would start from March 18 to March 20, 2022, while chapter and branch elections for external branches would be held from April 15 to April 24, 2022.

Also, the party has set April 22 to April 24, 2022 to elect its constituency executives; May 20 to May 22, 2022 to elect regional executives; while July 14 to July 16, 2022 has been set for the election of national executives.