Some members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who have expressed interest in contesting for the flagbearership position are said to be illegally campaigning.
The likes of Prof. Joshua Alabi, Ekow Spio-Garbrah, Alban Bagbin and Sylvester Mensah, through the media, have each made their intentions known and have directly or indirectly named a few reasons why they would be better leaders of the party during the 2020 elections.
National Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Adams, during an interview with TV3's Kwakye Afreh-Nuamah said such activities were not in line with the party’s constitution.
He also mentioned that the party had a timetable for the nomination of members for various positions ahead of the 2020 polls, stating with emphasis that nominations were not yet opened and so as it stands the party has no aspirant for any of the categories.
“The party has not opened nominations for a position that you are indicating that you want to aspire. Any true party person should spend much more time to understand this. Especially that we have announced a timetable. Reorganization November, December. Branch election January, constituency in March, Regional in June and National in July,” he explained.
He said as it stands the party only recognized Former President John Dramani Mahama because of his history as the Former President of the country.
“We don’t have any aspirants. We have not opened nominations. So at this point, we are not recognizing aspirants, we are recognizing people who have served. President Mahama was a Former President of this country and the immediate past leader our party, so we give that due recognition to him,” he noted.
General Secretary of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, some months ago, said the NDC’s constitution requires that a flagbearer be elected two years before elections when in opposition.
The Daily Guide newspaper reported him as saying, “By the close of next year, which is 2018, our presidential candidate for the 2020 presidential elections, would have been elected. Our Constitution instructs us to do so, and that is exactly what we will do.”
The NDC suffered a massive defeat in the 2016 elections as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) headed by President Nana Addo won with over a million votes.
From L-R: Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Alban Bagbin, Sylvester Mensah and Prof. Joshua Alabi