The National Chairman and Leader of the Convention People's Party (CPP), Dr Edmund Delle, has stated that neither the vetting committee nor the Central Committee of the party can disqualify any of the presidential aspirants of the party. He said the CPP constitution was very emphatic on the fact that it was only the national congress that could disqualify any of the presidential aspirants. Dr Delle, who is also seeking re-election as the chairman of the party, was reacting to media reports that some of the aspirants might be disqualified for not submitting their personal tax clearance certificates. Mr Bright Akwetey and Dr Kwaku Osafo have since submitted their personal tax clearance certificates. However, efforts to reach Mr George Aggudey, one of the three aspirants named in the media reports, proved futile. Aggudey is indeed reported to have failed a 48-hour deadline issued by the party. According Dr Delle, the Central Committee of the party, after receiving the vetting committee's report, mandated him (Dr Delle) to inform the three about the need to submit the certificates. He expressed surprise at the fact that before he could inform the three aspirants, moles within the party had leaked the information, making it seem the party was in the process of disqualifying the three for not providing the certificates. Dr Delle stated that the correct information was that the three must submit their certificates before congress. W hen the Daily Graphic contacted Dr Osafo and Mr Akwetey, they expressed disgust over the way the information was leaked to the media before they were informed. They blamed certain elements within the party who wanted to use the opportunity to tarnish their reputations and present them as recalcitrant citizens who had failed to fulfill their tax obligations. Explaining his side of the issue, Mr Akwetey said when he filed his nomination, he submitted his company tax clearance certificate but neither the party nor the vetting committee asked for his personal tax clearance certificate. He said it was surprising to learn from the media, and not the party, that he needed to submit his personal tax certificate, adding, "It was very painful that before the national chairman could inform me, it was all over in the media." Mr Akwetey, who worked with the Attorney-General's Department till October 1999, said he had to write to his former employers; who, in turn, wrote to the Internal Revenue Service for the certificate to be issued. He, however, described the incident as an opportunity to vindicate his honour. For his part, Dr Osafo described the move as a conspiracy by some elements to thwart his efforts at winning the presidential candidature of the CPP. He commended Dr Delle for making it clear that it was not the party's position to make the issue public. Source: Daily Graphic