Jake files nomination documents

Accra, Oct. 16, GNA - Mr. Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, Former Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations on Tuesday presented nomination documents and paid for 25,000 Ghana cedis to register to bid for the Flag bearer slot of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). "My father engaged in the struggle to bring self rule, to ensure that Ghanaians were not cheated by the whites, that the poor were not inhibited by the rich in society and against social injustice, am in the race to continue what my father and other leaders of our great party started," Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey stated in Accra.

The NPP Flag bearer aspirants stormed the party headquarters in the company of the wife of the late Obetsebi-Lamptey one of the big six of Ghana's struggle for political independence and a pillar in the Danquah/Busia.

The aspirants touted his achievement throughout the NPP-as three times Greater Accra Regional Chairman, Campaign Chairman of President John Agyekum Kufuor, which culminated in the electoral victory of 2000 and as a Minister of State.

Meanwhile GNA investigation showed that National Executive Committee of NPP had agreed that Vice Presidential nominees of the party would pay 17,500 Ghana cedis (175 Million cedis) as earnest money in affirmation of acceptance and selection.

According to the party, the position is a privileged slot and it is fair for the chosen vice presidential nominee to acknowledge the honour by paying 50 per cent of the towards capital mobilization of the party. Addressing Journalists after receiving the nomination forms, Nana Ohene Ntow reiterated a seven-point procedure and requirement for the aspirants.

Every member of the party who seeks the party's nomination as the flag bearer for Elections 2008, shall submit a hand written application to the General Secretary outlining his or her reasons for seeking the slot.

The aspirant is required to provide a curriculum vitae, a statement explaining any time spent in police custody, detention, exile or prison. Provide evidence of constitutional qualification for the nomination in the form of a photocopy of voter's identity card, birth certificate and statutory declaration in terms of the 1992 Constitution. The aspirant should provide evidence of qualification for the nomination in accordance to the party's constitution - membership card or certificate and evidence of being in good standing. All applicants may pay in person or through their agents 25,000 Ghana cedis (250 million cedis) through bankers' draft payable to NPP as earnest money in support of the application.

According to Article 12 of the NPP Constitution, on election of presidential candidate, no member shall be entitled to nomination as the Party's Presidential Candidate unless he or she is a known and active member of at least five years.

The person should be of good character, paid the prescribed fee for presidential aspirants by the deadline set by the National Executive Committee and is otherwise of good standing.

Other requirements are, he or she is found to be qualified to be a Presidential Candidate by the Vetting Committee, has signed the Undertaking for Presidential Aspirants and his/her nomination has been endorsed in writing by at least 100 members from each Region. It shall be the obligation of the member seeking nomination as the Party's Presidential Candidate to satisfy the National Executive Committee that the conditions stipulated in Article 12(4) have been fulfilled and any application that does not comply with these conditions shall be rejected.

The Party's Presidential Candidate shall be elected by the National Congress, which shall comprise the following delegates: 10 delegates from each constituency, a representative of the Founding Members from each region.

Others are; a representative of the Patrons from each Region, a representative of each overseas branch of the party that is entitled to send a representative to the congress.

Where there is a sole contestant for nominations as the Party's Presidential candidate, the congress shall acclaim his/her nomination as the party's Presidential Candidate.

Where there is more than one contestant, each delegate will cast his or her vote by secret ballot for one of the contestants. Where a contestant obtains more than fifty per cent of the votes cast, he or she shall be the party's Presidential Candidate. Where, however, no contestant obtains more than 50 per cent of the votes cast there shall be a run-off between the first two contestants and the contestant with a simple majority shall be the party's Presidential Candidate.

In the event of a tie between the two contestants, the run off will continue until one contestant obtains a simple majority.