The Greater Accra chairman of the New Patriotic Party says an early election for the party’s flag-bearer is crucial for the party’s return to power. Ishmael Ashitey is therefore calling on the newly elected executives of the party to take immediate steps to organise an early congress to elect a new leader. According to him, the election will reduce the acrimony and increasing factionalism which appears to be rearing its ugly head in the party. He told Citi News an early election will afford the party the opportunity to “sell” the candidate and his message to the Ghanaian electorate. By the party’s constitution, a presidential candidate must be elected 12 months to election if the party is in power and 24 months if the party is in opposition. By inference, the party can only organise election in December, but Mr Ashietey believes that will be too long a time. Newly elected General Secretary of the party, Kwodo Owusu Afriyie had made a similar call and hinted the maiden meeting of the elected executives will consider early election as part of the agenda. But the immediate past chairman of the party Mac Manu in an interview with Joy News would rather the executives adhered to the party’s constitution. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana