Reconciliation and consensus-building characterize Ashanti regional vetting of NPP aspirant

Contrary to expectations from some quarters that the Ashanti Regional primaries of the NPP will be the most acrimonious following the brouhaha surrounding the sale of Nomination Forms in a few constituencies in the region, the exercise in the region, particularly the vetting of aspiring parliamentary candidates has, thus far, proven to be the most peaceful in the country.

The vetting, which began on Monday, March 2, 2020, has been characterized by reconciliation, consensus building, selflessness, a significant manifestation of party loyalty, commitment and patriotism on the part of aspiring parliamentary candidates, party executives, and government appointees in the various constituencies of the region.

This follows the ingenuity and meticulous guidance of the National Parliamentary Vetting Committee (NPVC) led by the NPP General Secretary, John Boadu, in using the vetting platform to resolve disagreements between factions to bring about the needed unity and party cohesion among all stakeholders before, during and after the primaries.

In fact and indeed, as a result of the intervention of the NPVC, some of the aspiring parliamentary candidates decided to voluntarily step down from the contest in the supreme interest of the party and accordingly pledged their unflinching support for the incumbents to be able to retain the parliamentary seat.

For instance, during the vetting session of the aspiring candidates for the Ahafo Ano North Constituency, the leading contender, Mr Thomas Forkuo, after being prevailed upon, voluntarily opted to step down and support the sitting MP, Hon Suleman Adamu Sanid. Not only that, even when the vetting committee decided to refund his Filing Fee, he declined and rather said, the money be used as his personal contribution and support for the party.

Also, Vincent Acheampong, an aspirant, stepped down to allow the incumbent, Hon. Collins Ntim, who doubles as a Deputy Local Government Minister to go unopposed in the Offinso-North Constituency primaries. A similar feat was seen in many other constituencies including but not limited to the Asante Akyem North Constituency where a contestant, Mrs. Abena Frimpong-Mansoh, opted out of the race to support any candidate that the party eventually elects as its Parliamentary Candidate for the constituency.

The General Secretary of the party and chairman of the Vetting Committee thanked all these gallant contestants and likened their selflessness and sacrifice for the NPP to Dombo’s sacrifice for the party during the founding of the United Party (UP) allowing Busia to become the Leader of the UP, following which his name, Dombo, became embedded in the tradition of the party to wit; Danquah-Busia-Dombo political tradition.

The Vetting Committee has also been using the occasion of the vetting to resolve agelong misunderstanding in some of the constituencies in the region. Vetting of all the aspiring parliamentary candidates in the Ashanti Region is expected to end on Sunday, March 8, 2020, and vetting results or list of recommended parliamentary candidates will be published on Monday in line with the party’s guidelines and modalities for the conduct of the primaries.

The committee is composed of the NPP General Secretary, John Boadu; Benard Antwi Bosiako (aka Chairman Wontumi, Ashanti Regional Chairman); a member of the party’s Constitution and Legal Affairs Committee, Lawyer Gary Nimako; the NPP National Nasara Coordinator, Abdul-Aziz Futah; the Ashanti Regional Secretary, Sam Pyne; the Ashanti Regional Research and Elections Officer, Mr. Patrick Acheampong; the party’s Director of Research and Elections, Evans Nimako and Aide/Press Assistant to the General Secretary and the Committee.