Veep was informed of postponement of vetting - NPP Chairman

Accra, Nov. 9, GNA - The National Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Peter Mac Manu on Friday debunked speculation that Vice President Aliu Mahama was not informed of the postponement of his vetting last Tuesday.

However, Alhaji Aliu's Campaign Office has maintained that the Vetting Committee was not fair in dealing with the sitting Vice President, as the notice for the postponement was communicated less than an hour to the scheduled time.

Mr. Mac Manu, in a statement to the Ghana News Agency in Accra described the controversy as "unfortunate and regrettable" whereby the Vice President went to the old NPP party headquarters to be vetted at a time when the Vetting Committee had decided to postpone its sitting for that day, with prior notice to all concerned.

"NPP wishes to assure all aspirants and the general public of the capability and capacity of the Vetting Committee members, who are proven men and women of integrity dedicated to furthering the internal democratic credentials of the Danquah/Busia tradition.

"These men and women, the National Executives and all leading members of the party will not knowingly engage in acts that jeopardize these credentials of the party," the statement stated.

The scheduled vetting of Alhaji Aliu last Tuesday afternoon turned out to be a no show.

The vetting committee had fixed 1500 hours to meet and vet the Vice President in a mandatory process for all who aspire to be presidential candidate.

Alhaji Aliu made it to the venue about five minutes ahead of time but no member of the committee was present and his campaign team said there was also no communication from the party.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the NPP statement, Mr Ben Annan, the Vice President's Campaign Manager stated: "We were informed about the postponement about an hour to the meeting time, but we insisted that other senior members of the Committee, notably Mr Peter Ala Adjetey or

Mr Samuel Odoi Sykes, both former Chairmen of the party, could chair the vetting in the absence of the Committee chairman, Professor Daniel Adzei Bekoe."

According to Mr Annan, the Vice President's Campaign Office communicated to the Vetting Committee immediately that the change would not be suitable since the Vice President had altered his official duty to attend the vetting.

"We therefore made it clear that we had already set-off for the venue. It was of great surprise that not even the Secretary to the Committee who communicated with us was at hand to receive the sitting Vice President.

"We must know that Alhaji Aliu is not only an aspirant but a sitting Vice President, who deserves decorum and respect for his office, irrespective of the contest."

Mr Mac Manu explained that the Committee was authorized to examine and vet the candidature of every aspirant for the presidential nomination of the party to ensure that such a person qualified for the office of the Republic. The party also debunked an alleged clash between Mr Adjetey and Mr Alan Kyerematen, a flag bearer aspirant, at the vetting. The statement explained that the aspirant had a very cordial interaction with all the members of the committee. "Mr Kyerematen and the other aspirants who appeared before the committee on that day had lunch after vetting to demonstrate the cordiality." The party pledged its commitment and adherence to intra and inter democratic values and principles.