NDC Odododiodioo executives to vet aspirants vying for seat

Accra, March 18, GNA- Aspirants vying for the Odododiodioo seat in this year's elections on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would be vetted by the Constituency and regional Executives of the party on Thursday.

This was disclosed to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) by Mr Daniel Nii Okai, the Constituency Chairman, in Accra on Tuesday. He said after the vetting to determine the aspirants' suitability, recommendations of the Committee would be submitted to the National executive Committee of the party for approval after which a date would be fixed for a delegates' conference to select a candidate for the election.

Mr Okai stressed the neutrality of the executives and said they would follow the rules and regulations of the party with regards to the procedure for selection of parliamentary candidates to the letter to ensure justice and fair play for all contestants. The constituency Chairman denied that the executives were favouring any of the contestants and said they had pledged not to campaign for any of the contestants to ensure a free and fair selection of a candidate in line with democratic principles. Mr Okai said that any executive member contesting had to resign his position to ensure that no one had an undue advantage over the other aspirants.

He explained that even though an aspirant, the MP for the area, Mr Jonathan Nii Tackie Komme, still had to work with the executives until his tenure in Parliament was over in December. Mr Okai said the MP had to report the deliberations in Parliament to the executives, who would have to take his message down to the people and support him in his programmes as the representative of the area in the legislature.

"If even the MP does not get the nod at the delegates' conference the executives will have to work with him until parliament is officially dissolved in December," he said.

Mr Samuel Armah, Organising Secretary, said even though the relationship between members of the executives and the aspirants was cordial they would not campaign for any of the contestants. Mr Festus Bekoe, Constituency Vice Chairman, stressed the need for party discipline for the NDC to retain the seat. He also stressed the neutrality of the executives in the campaign before the delegates' conference to create "a level playing field" for all of the contestants.

The incumbent Mr Tackie Komme and two other candidates, Mr Benjamin Okai, a former Vice Chairman and Mr Walid Anyeitei Laryea, one time Youth Organiser are vying to be the NDC candidate for the election. 18 March 08