NPP Clears 326 Candidates for January 27 Parliamentary Primaries.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has announced that 326 parliamentary aspirants have been cleared to contest the January 27, 2024 primaries to elect candidates for constituencies with sitting Members of Parliament (MPs). This comes after vetting a total of 373 applications to participate in the primaries.

Unopposed Aspirants:

29 aspirants will go unopposed, including notable figures like Lydia Seyram Alhassan (MP for Ayawaso West Wuogon and First Deputy Majority Chief Whip), Samuel Abu Jinapor (MP for Damongo and Minister of Lands and Natural Resources), and Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum (MP for Bosomtwe and Minister of Education).

Disqualifications and Referrals:

11 aspirants were disqualified, while 2 were referred to the National Executive Committee (NEC) for further consideration. Two others stepped down, and one submitted an incomplete form. Two additional aspirants did not show up for vetting.

Appeals Process:

A National Parliamentary Appeals Committee (NPAC) has been established to handle appeals from disqualified aspirants. The committee will sit from today until Friday, and the deadline for submitting appeals has already passed.

Implications:

With the vetting process complete, the stage is now set for a competitive set of primaries on January 27. The outcome of these primaries will have a significant impact on the NPP's performance in the upcoming general elections.