A former Attorney-General, Ayikoi Otoo, has withdrawn from the race to become the National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The former High Commissioner to Canada had earlier pledged to whip up the attention of ministers and government appointees to the needs of the party for these to be provided, if he won the race.

But speaking ahead of the NPP’s National Delegates Conference to be held on July 16, Chairman of the party’s Election Committee, Mr. Peter Mac Manu announced that Mr. Otoo has communicated his decision to abandon the contest.

According to Mr. Mac Manu, the former A-G made this known in a letter on Monday, July 4, 2022.

“Three prospective aspirants for the positions of National Organizer, National Women’s Organizer and National Youth Organizer; Dr. Kwame Afriyie, Akosua Serwaa Bonsu and Tumfuo Klinsman Karikari Mensah respectively have also rescinded their decisions to contest.

“As a result of the diligence of the National Election Committee, no appeals against the nominations of any prospective aspirants were recorded by the National Appeals Committee.

“Ayiko Otoo who was vying for the position of National Chairman of the party has, however, since withdrawn from the race," he said on Wednesday.

The National Executive aspirants will be battling it out on July 16, to assume management roles in the party for the 2024 elections.

After an extensive vetting exercise in June, the party released list of candidates who were deemed qualified to contest at the National Delegates Conference.

Per the list, eight persons were to contest for the Chairmanship position, thus, with Mr. Otoo's withdrawal, the the number of aspirants has reduced to seven.