The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has outlined a roadmap for the election of party officers at the constituency, regional and national levels of the party.
It follows the completion of branch elections, the base of the party’s structure, which saw the election of officers across all 29,000 branches of the party in the country.
Per the outline, the internal election process is expected to be completed on December 17 with the national annual delegates’ congress to elect national officers.
The General Secretary of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, told a news conference in Accra yesterday that the process would commence with the opening of nominations between Tuesday, September 20 and 22 for the constituency polls and file same between September 28 – 29, 2022.
Vetting of applicants, he said, has been scheduled for between September 30 and October 2, appeals hearing for October 4 and 5 before the polls itself on October 22 and 23 to complete the process at the constituency level.
“We will not conclude the constituency elections before we open nominations for regionals because we want to cut off the practice where someone loses at the constituency and wins regional. It generates conflicts,” Mr Nketia said.
In this regard, he said nominations for the regional polls would be opened between October 6 and 7 and filling of same October 14 and 15, vetting on October 16 and 17, and appeals for October18 and 19.
The main regional conference, scheduled for October 12 and 13 to climax the regional exercise would be preceded by the Youth and Women Organiser conferences on November 11.
From that point, Mr Nketia said attention would be turned to the election of national officers which would have seen nomination opened between October 20 and 21.
Considering that candidates would have to go round the country to collect endorsements from all 275 constituencies, Mr Asiedu Nketia said they have been given a two-week grace period to do so and submit the forms between November 5 and 6 and avail themselves for vetting between November 9 and 10.
It would be followed by hearing of appeals between November 12 and 13, Regional Youth and Women Conferences on December 10, 2022.
The internal electoral process, Mr Asiedu Nketia said would be climaxed by the election of national officers on Saturday, December 17.
With regards to nomination fees at the regional level, Chairman aspirants would be required to pay GH¢4,000 and all other positions GH¢3,000. Youth and Women Organisers and Zongo Caucus Coordinator aspirants, however, would be made to pay GH¢2,000 with all deputy positions GH¢1,500.
At the constituency level, chairman aspirants would pay filing fee of GH¢600, Vice Chairman all other positions GH¢C400. Youth and Women Organisers aspirants would pay GH¢300 to be in the race.
Filing fees for national officer aspirants and modalities to govern the election would be announced in the “coming weeks.”
In line with the democratic nature of the party, Mr Asiedu Nketia said two or more days have been allotted to each activity on the calendar to be able to meet the deadlines and warned that “if you miss the first day, don’t miss the second one otherwise you will be belled out.”
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
