A political scientist, Professor Ransford Gyampo has stated that the current agitations on the labour front may intensify if the contestants display cash at the NPP's upcoming National Delegates Conference.

The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is set to organise its National Delegates Conference this weekend, to elect new national executives for the party.

Over the years, such conferences by political parties in Ghana have been characterised by vote-buying; with aspirants splashing monies to win the sympathy of delegates.

According to Professor Gyampo, if this happens at the NPP's national executive elections on Saturday, it will cause stakeholders on the labour front to press home their demands.

"Part of what would moderate or fuel the stance of all demanding COLA and better salaries in this period of hardship, would be the monies that would be changing hands from now up to the end of Saturday, in the ruling party’s national leadership election", he wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

Currently, some labour labour unions are demanding better conditions of service, given the hardship in the country.

Unions like the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT) have all laid down their tools, due to the failure of government to pay 20% of the basic salaries as Cost of Living Allowance (COLA).

A meeting between the agitated workers and government to resolve the impasse ended in a stalemate on Tuesday, after the the representatives of the unions walked out of the discussions.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the National Election Committee of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Peter Mac Manu has warned that the party will not countenance any acts of bribery and vote-buying in its upcoming national executive election.

According to him, such acts undermine the country's constitutional democracy and therefore, his outfit will take steps to prevent its occurrence.

Addressing a press conference last week, Mr. Mac Manu said the Party's leadership has consequently arranged with the Police to ensure that the process is devoid of any happenings that could mar the process.

"All aspirants and or their agents are therefore warned not to engage in any untoward behaviour that can be interpreted as bribery within the meaning of the Representative of People's Law 1992, PNDC Law 284, which are serious criminal offences.

The National Election Committee has therefore engaged the Ghana Police Service whose officers will be on the election grounds to strictly enforce the laws and arrest anyone found to be in the breach of PNDC law 284. There's a law in this country that covers bribery and we're going to enforce it", he cautioned.

Regarding the NPP's upcoming elections, a General Secretary aspirant, Charles Bissue has reportedly backed out of the race.

His exit adds up to the number of aspirants who have reportedly abandoned the contest.

https://www.myjoyonline.com/charles-bissue-pulls-out-of-npps-general-secretary-race-3-days-to-polls/

Earlier, a National Chairman aspirant, Nii Ayikoi Otoo, also withdrew from the contest.

The former High Commissioner to Canada and Attorney-General had earlier pledged to respond to the needs of party faithful, if he won the race.

But speaking ahead of the NPP’s National Delegates Conference to be held on July 16, Mr Peter Mac Manu announced last week Wednesday that, Mr Otoo has withdrawn his candidature.

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 last Wednesday.