A record number of 30 contestants have lined up for the seven national executive posts on offer by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at this Saturday's August 25th congress, but the fanfare associated with the party's previous national delegates congress is yet to be felt, barely 72 hours to the d-day.
The jostling associated with the election to the seven offices is, however, expected to peak between Friday evening and early Saturday morning, when all the candidates would up their campaigns.
The congress comes off at the University of Ghana, Legon, Accra.
Chronicle has gathered three out of the 34 candidates who filed their applications with the party have dropped out, even before the race could start. The three have been disqualified from contesting for failing to meet basic requirements for membership of the party.
They are Messrs Rans Agyemang Prempeh, George Okyere Asiedu and Dr. Emmanuel Obuamah Laryea. The three were to contest for the post of National Chairman, General Secretary and National Organizer respectively.
Chronicle gathered late yesterday that London returnee Francis Kojo Smith has also pulled out of the race for the National Organizer slot, reducing the number of contestants to 30.
Political analysts say this is the highest number of contestants ever recorded in the annals of NPP national congress.
The disqualification of Rans Agyemang Prempeh leaves incumbent General Secretary Dan Botwe coasting home to victory as the second re-elected General Secretary of the party. The first to serve a two-term post is the late Agyenim Boateng.
The youthful Dan Botwe is the only member of the last set of party executives holding party office. His other colleagues have been appointed to positions in the Kufour-led administration, while former Vice Chairman, Dr. Wayo Seini, resigned from the party before the last December elections to concentrate on his "academic career".
The slugfest for the prestigious national chairmanship has Mr. Haruna Esseku, one time Acting Central Regional Chairman and the perceived favourite of President John Agyekum Kufour, competing against Messrs Mohammed Musa, Samuel Addai-Duah, Robert Quainoo-Arthur and Peter Perkin Cann. Esseku, who was suspended by his colleagues on the regional executive from the party late last year until recently, is tipped to emerge the winner. His suspension was recently waived by his colleagues in what party sources say is an attempt to clear the way for him to annex the chairmanship.
The original favourite for the post, Legon Political Science professor, now Ambassador-designate, Mike Ocquaye, is on public record to have admitted backing out of the chairmanship race because the President advised him to do so in favour of Esseku.
In an interview with the Legon-based Radio Universe about a month ago, Ocquaye said since the party wanted the President to have a second term in office, it would be ideal to have a party chairman he could trust.
Esseku would, however, have to overcome antagonism against him.
Chronicle has learnt that a letter he wrote to the party hierarchy, indicating his readiness to work in the interest of NPP in the aftermath of the death of the party's parliamentary candidate for Awutu-Senya, the late John Ackah, whom he campaigned against, could be his undoing. He remains the favourite though.
The three National Vice Chairmanship slots are being fought over by the highest number of contestants. The contestants include Messrs Albert Yaw Osebre, Stephen Ayesu Ntim, Herman Seshie, Samuel Kwame Amable, and Doctors Kojo Appiah Kubi and Kwesi Adjepong.
Others are Ken Gag Senaya, Nana Afum Boateng, Yaw Amankwa, Joseph Kwabena Manu, Edmund Annan, Alhaji Ahmed Osman, Mrs. Agnes Adzo Okudzeto and Catherine Tedam.
One of the ladies contesting for this post is expected to fill in the place of Madam Ama Busia, a former Vice Chairperson.
The Treasury post is being fought over by Messrs Kwesi Arthur, Michael Dugan, Samuel James Nii Adjei Tawiah and Osei Wusu Sampah.
The following are also seeking to take over the mantle of leadership from Major Courage Quashigah (rtd), incumbent National Organizer and Minister of Food and Agriculture.
They are Alhaji Sulemana Bartholomew Mousieyiri, Mustapha Abdul Hamid, Aboagye Johnson Cliff, Joseph Kofi Darko and Lord Enoch Oblitey Commey, a favourite for the job.
Commey has been one of the youthful faces that umpired the NPP campaign in the last elections. He appeared on number of platforms for the party and 'emceed' most of the party's campaign rallies, including the last official party rally at the Mamprobi Indafa Park, Accra, barely four days to the December 8 elections
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