Posted: Daily Guide |Tuesday, 20 July 2010
By Charles Takyi-Boadu
The atmosphere at the national headquarters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) yesterday was one that showed a party poised for unity and victory, come December 2012, as the much-hyped crisis meeting ended with presidential aspirants exchanging banters.
The five flag bearer-aspirants of the party had met with members of the Council of Elders, chaired by one time presidential advisor on health, Prof Fred Torgbor Sai, to deliberate on issues on procedures and processes governing the impending national delegates’ congress scheduled for August 7, 2010.
Sources close to the party told DAILY GUIDE that the meeting agreed to close the proxy votes which, as at yesterday, had registered 64 votes; 63 from overseas branches and one from a local member.
The aspirants were also given up to tomorrow to nominate their agents to be submitted to the various constituency election committees and fixed August 2, 2010 for resolving all outstanding issues including the validation of the voter register.
The meeting will reconvene on July 29 to assess the implementation of the roadmap for a successful congress.
The Election Committee will also meet the Electoral Commission tomorrow to finalise the process of printing the ballot papers for the polls.
First to arrive at the meeting’s venue was Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, followed by Kumasi-based lawyer Evangelist John Kwame Kodua.
Not too long thereafter, the 2008 presidential candidate of the party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, showed up, with Isaac Osei in tow and then Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen.
Each of these five aspirants was received with a rousing welcome by several members of the party who had gathered there to cheer them on.
Half-way through the meeting, Isaac Osei and Mr. Kodua had to seek permission to leave the meeting to attend to some pressing issues.
After going into close-door meeting for almost three hours, the Council opened its doors to members of the media, with the various aspirants beaming with smiles and exchanging pleasantries.
Prof .Sai said all was clear for the party’s delegates’ congress and that the congress could go on without any hitch.
“All the problems that have been raised either in the press or to the executives were addressed this afternoon,” was how he put it.
Most of these problems, according to Prof. Sai, related to issues around procedures and processes that were to be followed between now and the time of the election.
Prof. Sai was made to chair the meeting to avoid a case of conflict of interest since the party did not want Clement Tedam, acting chairman of the Council of Elders who also doubles as the chairman of the party’s Election Committee, to be seen like a judge in his own cause.
The meeting was said to have taken place, as the chairman said, “In complete amity”, noting “there were a lot of friendliness, a lot of banter and sometimes even complete happiness.”
The outcome of the meeting goes to allay the fears of party supporters that the congress date might have to be reviewed, given the threats to resort to the court for an injunction to suspend the internal polls by some aggrieved persons.
The register or album of delegates has been a subject of controversy in the past few weeks, culminating in last week’s press conference by the four concerned presidential hopefuls, which necessitated the meeting.