Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press
The essence of this Press Conference is to spell out the guidelines and modalities for the conduct of the Party’s Parliamentary Primaries in the 168 Constituencies where the NPP has sitting Members of Parliaments (MPs) to elect Parliamentary Candidates for the 2020 General Elections. We would also be updating you on developments regarding the Party’s Presidential Primaries.
In the light of this, the statement is structured to include Guidelines on Polling Day; Parliamentary Primaries in Constituencies With Unopposed Candidates; Publication of names of Candidates cleared by NEC to contest in the Primaries; Primaries in a remaining Orphan Constituency; Update on Presidential Primaries and some disciplinary matters.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it would be recalled that the Party, at a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on Wednesday, the 3rd of June, 2020, agreed to hold its 2020 Parliamentary Primaries on SATURDAY, JUNE, 20, 2020, in all the Constituencies where the party has sitting MPs with the exception of Ayawaso West Wougon.
At the said meeting, the Party considered the Reports of the various National Parliamentary Vetting Committees and the National Parliamentary Appeals Committee on the status of all Aspiring Parliamentary Candidates, which Reports were largely accepted by NEC except in few instances.
Thus far, all these processes that have been rolled out are in line with the Rules and Regulations published by the Party on January 16, 2020, for the conduct of the 2020 Parliamentary Primaries. However, owing to the Covid-19 situation in the country, the Party was compelled to reconsider some of the Rules particularly the date for the Primaries which had to be postponed following the Covid-19 restrictions. All is now set for the Primaries subject to the following guidelines and modalities.
The Party wishes to emphasize that the Primaries shall be conducted in strict compliance with the Covid-19 health protocols announced by His Excellency President Nana Akufo-Addo. Accordingly, the Party, while making sure that not more than 100 people congregate at a voting centre, will also be making available, alcohol-based hand sanitizers at each polling centre for delegates to sanitize their hands before participating in the polls. Equally, the Party has procured nose masks which shall be given to every delegate.
GUIDELINES AND MODALITIES FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY PRIMARIES
Voting Day Regulations:
1) The Primaries shall be held on Saturday, June 20, 2020 on Electoral Area basis per the Electoral Commission’s designation
2) Voting shall be supervised by the Electoral Commission of Ghana assisted by the respective National Parliamentary Vetting Committees
3) Delegates shall comprise all Polling Station executives; all Constituency Executives; 5 members of the Constituency Council of Elders; 5 members of the Constituency Council of Patrons; as well as any founding member of the Party from the Constituency, who was a signatory to the registration document of the Party at the Electoral Commission.
4) The five (5) members of the Constituency Council of Elders; the five (5) members of the Constituency Council of Patrons; all the members of the Constituency Executive Committee; as well as the Party’s Founding members who were signatories to the registration document of the Party at the Electoral Commission shall all be accredited to vote at the Constituency Secretariat.
5) The Polling Station Executives and the Electoral Area Coordinators shall be accredited to vote at the Electoral Area voting centre.
6) The Constituency Album which has been broken down into Electoral Area Album shall be used to identify all delegates who are eligible to vote in their respective Electoral Areas.
7) Delegates will be required to produce an NPP Membership ID Card or any other recognized National ID card to entitle them to vote
8) Proxy voters shall be accredited delegates in the Constituency
9) Voting starts at 7 am and ends at 1pm
10) Each delegate will be required to thumbprint in front of his or her preferred Candidate on the ballot paper that will be issued
11) A Ballot Paper will not be counted if:
a) it does not bear the official validating stamp of the Commission.
b) it is not thumb printed by the delegate to clearly identify the preferred candidate he/she is casting the vote for.
c) it is not thumb printed at all
d) it is thumb-printed more than one candidate on the ballot paper.
e) it is thumb-printed in such a way that the choice of the delegate is not clear.
f) it has mark(s) that identifies who the delegate is not clearly defined.
12) Counting & Declaration of Results:
a) Counting of ballot will be done immediately after the close of Polls at each Electoral Area Polling Centre and at the Constituency Secretariat Polling Centre
b) Ballot will be counted and declared by the EC Presiding Officer in the presence of Candidates’ Agents.
c) Counting shall not begin until after 1pm
d) Each Candidate will be represented by One (1) Polling Agent at each Voting Center (i.e. Electoral Area).
e) The results of each Electoral Area Polling Centre and that of the Constituency Secretariat Polling Station will all be collated at the Constituency Secretariat which shall be the Constituency Collation Centre.
f) Only Candidates and their Agents (1 each) will be allowed entry at the Constituency Collation Centre
g) The Electoral Commission’s District Officer at the Constituency Secretariat will do the final declaration of results for the Constituency Primaries.
13) Voting Offences:
It is an offence to:
a) vote or attempt to vote more than once at the primaries.
b) buy or sell a vote
c) compel somebody to vote in a particular way
d) obstruct a delegate from freely exercising his or her right to vote
e) display your marked ballot paper in such a way as to make it known to others the candidate you are voting for.
f) take photo of how he/she voted in any particular way.
14) Code of Conduct for Candidates
a) Candidates shall cease all forms of campaign activities by midnight (12 am) of June 19, 2020
b) Candidates shall campaign on issues and refrain from leveling unsubstantiated allegations, personal attacks and vilifications against their opponents
c) No candidate shall undertake any activity that will polarize the Constituency along tribal, religious and other factional lines. Candidates shall also require their supporters not to engage in any of these activities
15) Disputes arising out of the voting process shall be referred the National Parliamentary Vetting Committee for amicable resolution
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
16) Guidelines for Constituencies with Unopposed Candidates
a) There shall not be elections in Constituencies where there are unopposed Candidates.
b) Delegates in these Constituencies will however be required to converge at the Electoral Area or Zonal Level for Candidates to address them.
c) The Venue for this meeting shall be determined by the National Parliamentary Vetting Committee for each Region in consultation with the sole Candidate to smoothen the process based on situation-specific dynamics
d) This process is not subject to Regulation (1) and Regulation (9) of these guidelines. This means it can be held in more than a day, and does not also have to start from 7am to 1pm.
17) Constituencies where Primaries have been suspended
a) Constituency Primaries in the Kwadaso Constituency in the Ashanti Region have been suspended till further notice
b) Constituency Primaries in the Gushegu Constituency in the Northern Region have been suspended till further notice
c) Constituency Primaries in the Dormaa Central Constituency in the Bono Region have been suspended till further notice
18) Primaries for outstanding ‘Orphan Constituency’
a) Constituency Primaries shall be held in the Krachi West Constituency of the Oti Region
b) The Primaries shall be held on Saturday, June 20, 2020.
c) Primaries in the Krachi West Constituency shall be conducted in accordance with Regulation (16) above since there is only one Candidate.
CANDIDATES THAT HAVE BEEN CLEARED BY THE PARTY’S NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (NEC) TO CONTEST IN THE PARLIAMENTARY PRIMARIES
Refer to Attachment
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES
Following the General Secretary’s report to National Council at its meeting on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, to the effect that at the close of the Party’s Presidential Nomination, only one Candidate, in the person of H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, filed to contest in the 2020 Presidential Candidate, the National Council resolved to acclaim the sole Candidate. Consequent to this, the Party will soon announce a date for the acclamation of the Presidential Candidate.
DISCIPLINARY MATTERS
The Party has observed, rather worryingly, the conduct of some members claiming to be invoking curses on the Party Leadership and in particular, on members of NEC on allegations that their preferred Candidates have been disqualified by NEC from contesting in the Primaries. We are completely appalled by such gross misconduct.
Accordingly, the Party is instructing the respective Constituency Executives in the Constituencies where this unfortunate incident happened, to immediately suspend all those involved in this awkward behavior while instituting appropriate disciplinary actions against them in line with Article 3 and 4 of the Party Constitution.
CONCLUSION
Ladies and gentlemen of the press, the Party wishes to stress that any aspiring parliamentary candidate who flouts any of the above guidelines and modalities or conducts him/herself in a manner that brings the Party’s name into disrepute shall be deemed to have breached Article 4(7) of the NPP constitution and will, accordingly, be sanctioned including being disqualified from contesting in the Primaries.
Finally, while wishing all prospective aspiring parliamentary candidates the best of luck in the Parliamentary Primaries, the party hopes and anticipates that these prospective aspiring candidates, together with their supporters, would adhere strictly to these rules of engagements in their own interest and in the supreme interest of the party.
…Signed….
John Boadu
General Secretary
Source: peacefmonline.com
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HOW CAN ALL NPP PARTY LEADERS STAND AGAINST ONE PERSON AND MAKE HIM GO THROUGH ALL THESE ORDEAL IN THE NAME OF POLITICS? DOES NPP LEADERSHIP APPRECIATE VIRGINA OVER PENIS ?; THE ISSUE OF GOMOA CENTRAL CONSTITUENCY PRIMARIES BETWEEN DR CUDJOE AND NAANA EYIAH. The 2020 Primaries Picking of nomination forms and filing Naana Eyiah and her camp were, right from the beginning of the process of conducting the primaries, starting ridiculing Dr. Cudjoe that, he couldn’t file to contest due to financial challenges. Dr. Cudjoe who does not show off but always does things under quiet picked the nomination form and duly filed to the amazement of Naana Eyiah and her followers. Vetting Sensing danger, and doing everything possible by begging party leaders to destroy Dr and disallow her to go unopposed had failed, Naan Eyiah and her team, went every length, including investigating Dr. Cudjoe from the various health institutions that he had clinically looked into their books throughout Ghana. The intention was, whether they could find any fault or malfeasance or traces of corruption allegation against him. To the amazement of those who were sent to investigate him, all the Drs, CEOs, etc interviewed during their fault-finding mission, remarked “if all people are like Dr Cudjoe, Ghana would go far. If they found any wrongdoing, let Naana Eyiah and his people come out to say. Prior to the vetting, there were information coming from Naana Eyiah’s camp that, everything possible would be done to disqualify Dr. Cudjoe. On the day of vetting in Cape Coast, Naana Eyiah spent just some six (6) minutes before the committee but Dr. Cudjoe was subjected to barrage of questions from every corner from the committee members, frustratingly for over an hour. They would not even allow him to finish answering a question. You could see a clear agenda and connivance to do everything humanly possible to disqualify him from the male dominated vetting committee members and their hunchbacks. After, their abortive agenda of an hour-long frustrating session, Naana Eyiah and Dr. Cudjoe were called in again and the two aspirants balloted to know their positions on the ballot paper. So, everyone who attended the vetting on that day came to the conclusion that, both candidates were going to contest the primaries. MERRY MAKING A DAY AFTER THE VETTING BY SAME PEOPLE WHO VETTED THE ASPIRANTS AT NAANA EYIAH’S (MP’S) HOUSE The next day, the constituency executives and some officers, who are supposed to be neutral, all gathered at the house of Naana Eyiah, merry making, eating and drinking. At the height of their stupor, they chanted and bragged that, they would disqualify Dr Cudjoe, no matter, what it takes to do so. Then, on Wednesday night, a list purported to be those cleared by the Central Regional vetting committee was seen on social media, with Dr. Cudjoe’s name conspicuously missing. It became a rumour as no official letter or no committee member had called Dr Cudjoe to inform him of his disqualification and reason underlying that decision. Dr. Cudjoe restrains party supporters from demonstrating after news of his disqualification broke out Party members and some delegates, including several constituents who were furious quickly started mobilizing for a press conference and a showdown but Dr. Cudjoe restrained every move and advised them to; 1. Wait for an official letter on the said rumoured disqualification 2. And that, if indeed, Dr. Cudjoe is really disqualified with a stated reason, he will have to first go to appeal using the party’s laid down and approved review (appeals) process. He made it clear that, he is a peaceful and a law-abiding party faithful, he doesn’t want to break any rule, regulation or law. 3. And that, if after, the appeal, the National Appeals committee doesn’t reverse the decision, then, he would take the next appropriate action. Dr Cudjoe, then appealed to the National Appeals Committee. Everything became clear that Dr. had been given the green light to contest HON. KWAMENA BARTELS AND PRESIDENCY INVITE DR CUDJOE Knowing that Dr Cudjoe has been cleared by the appeal’s committee and that he would contest the MP, the MP deepened her pleading through to the very top of the powers that be. Nana Eyiah and her schemers were bent on ensuring that she clears Dr, Cudjoe and goes unopposed Their craftiness reached the height. Hon Kwamena Bartel’s whose own daughter is also contesting a sitting MP invited Dr. cudjoe and while pleading that Dr. Cudjoe allows Naana Eyiah to go uncontested, he also used threatening words like, you job could be on the line (i.e. sacked). Bartels was telling Dr. Cudjoe all these without any negotiation, without any thing on the table for dr as is normally the case. Sadly, these leaders knew that Dr. Cudjoe had made attempt to lead and see to improving the living condition of the Gomoa people since 2008 with the experience he had gained abroad and also that he had spent several thousands of ghana cedis on party activities, and traveled to and from from US to Ghana for over twenty (20) times. Hon Bartels (who now looks very frail and weakling) engaged Dr Cudjoe (on the issue of stepping down) twice. At all the engagements with this fine gentleman, Dr Cudjoe made it categorically clear to Bartels that, he has a mission to accomplish to help gomoa citizens improve upon their standard of living, so. He won’t step down. Dr. Cudjoe made his stance repeatedly and clearly without fear. Knowing that his coup had failed, Kwamena bartels’ said, well, the powers that be would hear his answer. All those reading this piece, is this the democracy we have chosen? Is this the party we have held unto its tenents since its formation in 1992? Are all these scheming because of Naana Eyiah (someone everybody knows, she does not have what it is to lead and bring change and improvement in the lives of these people whose economic situation is sad to talk about? So, because of Naana Eyiah gomoa citizens must remain in their sordid state. Nobody thinks about the welfare of these people who are so disadvantaged? It’s unfortunate and bad to say the least. When those who sent Bartels realized that Dr Cudjoe stood on his grounds, a call came from that presidency through Captain Koda, that, the president himself wanted to have a meeting with Dr Cudjoe to discuss the issue of the need to allow Naana Eyiah to go unopposed. (At the jubilee house, it was said that, the president was busy so Captain Koda stood in for the President and engaged Dr Cudjoe. So. all these calls, meetings, scheming, because of Naana Eyiah, a semi-literate? Some one whose main business at the Parliament House is becoming a subservient and almost playing the role of a maidservant to her colleague MPs by serving them at meal time. just to cover her obvious weakness and lack? Sadly, nobody thinks about gomoa citizens and their welfare. Why would any serious nation sit down, watch unconcerned for leaders push someone who does not have what it is to be a deputy minister? So being a government appointee is now not attached to what contribution that appointee could make to a situation but appoint anybody provided that appointee could share what he or she gets from occupying the position without recourse to his or her suitability? It’s sad for the continent of Africa. Gomoa people must weep in times like this. The poverty level at gomoa is unimaginable. The youth are suffering as never before. If these push leaders care just a little for the Gomoa people, they would go to the ground, consider the situation of the people and not just push anything to be their MP. SAD TO SAY As I speak to you this humble, very hard working, never corrupt American trained Dr, because of this woman, his position is even being toiled with at NHIA head office. Is this the way a democratic party function? Is this the path we have chosen? Gomoa citizens are at a disadvantage so much so that, they need a personality like Dr. Cudjoe to bring them up through constant engagements with the chiefs and the people, especially the youth to chart a new course of action to change their narrative, change their sad story as a people. Maltreatment meted out to Dr. Cudjoe’s family Let it not be said that, NPP does not believe in meritocracy. Aside treating Dr. Cudjoe so badly, Dr. Cudjoe’s uncle (Dr Amos Ofori Quaah) was removed from office under a very strange circumstances as GNPC boss under president Kufuor. He was the lead figure in the Ghana’s oil find. People can look for his book, “My story in Ghana’s Black gold”. Dr Cudjoe’s younger brother, was also removed from the health ministry as a PRO with no just cause (with only one explanation from the Hon. Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu when the PRO met the minister. Hear him, Cudjoe “ you have not done anything wrong since you started working with me, the decision to take you away is just someone’s political interest”. Very shocking! Isn’t it? All these individuals are from the same family, very committed to work, not corrupt, very patriotic and have Ghana at heart. They are from an area within Gomoa, that, no one has held any major appointment in any government. Justice Ampiah retired, a Supreme court Judge is our uncle. They all work on merit. They are fine academicians that any serious government could use. Our younger uncle, Nana Kofi Kyei Gyedu, resident in Togo, was the one whose efforts did the magic for the party (Togolese not being able to flock into Ghana to vote during the 2016 elections). A single move that inured to the benefit of the party greatly in 2026. Nana Kyei is a pillar as far as NPP Togo branch activities are concerned. Many party leadership in Ghana either know him or have heard his name before. He was forgotten entirely after the party winning power) Whatever promised made to him during all those struggles were never fulfilled. Very fine people, committed to the known, ideal and existing values of our forefathers but for whatever reasons, political players are always working against them. Is it a question of Fantes being coward, timid, they hardly speak when you even trample upon them, so you can treat them anyhow? Let’s remember, a snake climps up with a lot of struggle. And one day, Heaven will speak for Gomoa. Now, Dr. Cudjoe, a very fine gentleman, a highly educated person (Dr.), a man with very supportive wife and very obedient children under him. A very patriotic Ghanaian. A man very committed to his work and doesn’t compromise on standards. A matured church officer and a God-fearing individual. Do we throw such a good thing away? Is Dr Cudjoe, a person who should be debarred from contesting a Parliamentary primary in his own party? A party (a constituency), he has worked for, for so many years and has sacrificed so much for it since 2007 (14 years without blemish)? Have we ever seen a good and a valuable thing that has been thrown away before? A MAN OF SUCH A PEDIGREE AS SHOWN BELOW? i. A Doctor of Pharmacy (Clinical-graduating from Mercer University School of Pharmacy Atlanta, Ga (USA) in 1997) in several American renowned Pharmaceutical companies, including Wal-Mart Corporation, CVS Corporation, B.J. S Wholesale Corporation, and K. Mart Corporation, in all as a Pharmacist Manager gave me the privilege and honour to meet countless number of Ghanaians (and even foreigners), many of whom were, top Ghanaian government officials and highly respected traditional and religious leaders. Dr. Cudjoe belongs to the American Society of Pharmacists, Georgia Pharmacist Association and Student National Pharmacy Association (SNAPHA) from 1993 to 2016, first as Vice President and then as their President. ii. Dr. Cudjoe has done a lot to open up the Gomoa Central Constituency. Dr. Cudjoe has given so much to the Constituency. His campaign and activities opened up the constituency to the level it is now. iii. Putting his life on the line for the love of the people of Gomoa and struggling to lead them as their MP since 2008 and leaving the comfort of US and his family behind all for the sake of heeding to the call from on high to, as Moses did for the Jews also lead and take the Gomoa people out of their current situation?. iv. In NPP, Dr. Cudjoe has held the following positions and played various roles. Parliamentary Aspirant Gomoa East 2007 Parliamentary Candidate Gomoa Central 2012 Parliamentary Aspirant Gomoa Central 2015 Deputy General Secretary NPP Atlanta Chapter From 2006 Member NPP USA 2006 to date v. Dr. Cudjoe was the one who led the NPP US team to donate some amount of money to Nana Addo’s campaign in 2008. vi. All the diasporeans (Ghanaians from abroad) who have been given appointment in Nana’s government and are excelling to the admiration of Ghanaians are all very good friends of Dr. Cudjoe. Many of them, it was Dr. who guided them in their decisions to accept to work in Ghana to help our our nation. Talk about Dr. Adutwum (Education), Busia (DVLA), Adu (Trades Fair Company), Mr…….TVET, Dr. …HeFRA. You name them. All these very close friends from abroad who were given chance to contribute their quota are all doing very well in their areas of appointment. vii. The popularity of Dr. Cudjoe within the constituency is so high and continues to soar. viii. Naana Eyiah, a new comer into NPP fold and a follower of Dr. Cudjoe during 2012 campaign, a vocational school graduate, a biscuits seller and someone who could hardly finish a sentence in English without looking into a prepared speech, a person who is not in good books of any of her own siblings and acts so snobbishly, insubordinate and disrespectful in attitudes and behaviour but pretends to be an angel when she appears before either MPs or party leaders to seek for favour and protection for her own inadequacy, be preferred over Dr. Cudjoe and actually and forcefully prevent him from contesting this woman? Dr. Cudjoe has offered supports to so many people • Given financial supports to people in need to meet pressing family challenges • Paid fees for brilliant but needy students • Registered several people on the NHIS • Helped people to gain employment and some gained admissions to educational institutions • Assisted some people to go to US through the American Visa Lottery • Assisted many to gain admissions into educational institutions within the constituency • Be present at almost every gathering of the chiefs and their people during festivals and also funeral ceremonies and contributed immensely towards town committees development activities. NB: Dr. Amoaku Tuffour, a very respected stateman and a party elder in NPP has cautioned (sounded several words almost warning) the party leadership, that, they should allow democracy to work in the party as our tradition allows it. He concluded that, failure on the part of leadership, in doing anything against the spirit and the letter of the party’s constitution could be detrimental to the fortunes of the party in this 2020 elections. WHOEVER SUGGESTED THE IDEA THAT CHAIRMEN OF THE PARTY BE GIVEN UNRESTRAINED AND UNLIMITED POWERS TO VIRTUALLY HIJACK, CONTROL AND DIRECT THE AFFAIRS OF THE PARTY MUST BOW THEIR HEADS IN SHAME. THESE PEOPLE HAVE A HIDDEN AGENDA OF SPOILING THE PARTY UNKNOWN TO MANY Once the party does not need the services of Dr. Cudjoe, they must refund all the money he spent including the forms, filing and the MPs fees.