Bernard Baidoo and NPPs Oquaye clash over Kojo Bamba’s eligibility on live TV

Akwatia MP Bernard Baidoo has cited the NPP constitution’s eligibility provisions in questioning Kojo Bamba’s election as First Vice Chairman.

Baidoo quoted a provision stating that a member can be disqualified from holding office or contesting a party election if convicted or sentenced by a court for offences including high treason, offences involving state security, dishonesty, fraud or moral turpitude.

The provision, he said, also refers to a 10-year period after a sentence has been served or the granting of a full pardon.

“A member shall be disqualified from holding any office or contesting any election in the party if he or she has been convicted or sentenced by a court of competent jurisdiction in respect of any offence involving high treason, an offence involving the security of the state, dishonesty, fraud, moral turpitude,” Baidoo quoted from the constitution.

NPP’s Mike Oquaye Jnr questioned whether Bamba’s previous conviction fell within any of those categories.

“The man has not gone to do high treason, so what is the issue?” Oquaye asked.

Baidoo maintained that the interpretation of the party’s constitution was central to the matter and said the question should not simply be dismissed because the conviction was for a misdemeanor.

Oquaye, however, argued that Bamba was able to pass the party’s vetting process.

“This gentleman could pass vetting,” he said, while acknowledging that the constitutional provision needed to be considered.

Baidoo disagreed with the outcome, saying the circumstances should have been properly examined before Bamba was cleared to contest.

“You know very well that you goofed,” Baidoo told Oquaye during the exchange.

The disagreement has raised questions about how the NPP’s constitutional eligibility provisions were applied during the vetting of candidates for the party’s latest national executive elections.

NDC won’t intimidate us; we will fight until victory in 2028 – Afenyo Markin



Source: mynewsgh.com
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