NPP pledges "fair hearing" for aggrieved candidates in primaries

Accra, May 3, GNA - The New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Tuesday assured all aggrieved candidates in last weekend's parliamentary primaries that their complaints would be looked into by the party.

"A fair hearing will be given anybody aggrieved from the process,"Mr Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, General Secretary, said.

"We ask for calm whilst the petitions are being looked at, and urge all to use the party structures in addressing grievances," he said in a statement issued in Accra.

Mr Owusu Afriyie said the party had received two petitions from the Okaikoi South and North Tongu constituencies.

"These will be looked into extensively by the mandated body within the party structure headed by Mr. Odoi Sykes, former National Chairman and Ambassador."

Mr Owusu Afriyie, on behalf of the flag bearer and leadership of the Party, congratulated all for showing maturity throughout the contest and the hard work, dedication, enthusiasm and commitment exhibited by the entire party in making the primaries a great success. He also expressed appreciation to the Electoral Commission of Ghana,

the Ghana Police Service and all who in diverse ways assisted in making the

primaries a success. Mr Owusu Afriyie said the April 30 primaries were free, fair and

peaceful. He said 520 aspirants - 64 females and 456 males - contested in 220

constituencies. There were elections in 147 Constituencies whilst 73 were returned

without a contest. The statement said 22 women emerged as candidates from Saturday's

contest, including four who were returned unopposed, while 11 sitting

Members of Parliament lost at the polls.