The National Executive Committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has issued rules that will govern their internal elections to select party officers. 

The party says interested party members who wish to contest any position should be card bearing members in good standing for the past two years.

 

Below is the statement

RULES FOR ELECTION OF PARTY OFFICERS – 2013 TO 2014.

INTRODUCTION

Pursuant to Article 17 of the Constitution of the New Patriotic Party, the National Executive Committee provides the following rules to govern the 2013-2014 internal elections of the party

 

I. POLLING STATION ELECTIONS:

 (A) POSITIONS TO BE CONTESTED:

1. Polling Station Chairman
2. Polling Station Secretary
3. Polling Station Organizers.
4. Polling Station women Organizer
5. Polling Station Youth Organizer

(B) CONTESTANTS

1. The election is open to all Card bearing Members in good standing for 2 years (Article 5, 2C) of the party’s constitution.
2. The Contestant should have been a member of the party for at least 2 years before the election in which he/she want to contest. He must prove this with his party membership card. (Old Card or new plastic Card as verified by National Office database).
3. The Contestant must have 3 Card bearing members in good standing in the Polling Station area who can attest to their active participation in Party activities in the area to propose and second them for the position they want to contest.
4. The Nomination forms for the Polling Station Election shall cost GH¢1.00 and filling fee of GH¢ 4.00. The funds collected shall be used by the Constituency Elections Committee to conduct the elections.
5. Where a contestant has difficulty in obtaining nomination forms at the constituency, he/she may pick forms from the Regional or National office of the party.
6. Where a contestant has difficulty in filing his nomination with the Constituency Elections Committee, he/she may file with any member of the Constituency Executive Committee.
7. . Each contestant shall be vetted by the Constituency Elections Committee.

(C) ELECTORAL COLLEGE:

1. All Card bearing members registered for at least 2 years ago and are in good standing in the catchment area of the polling station are eligible to cast thier vote in the election of the polling station executives. (Old Card or new plastic Card as verified by National Office database).

 

2. The Register to be used for the Polling Station Election shall be the updated polling station register as compiled by the Constituency Executive Committee and validated with the Register compiled by the National Headquarters IT department.

NOTE:THE PARTY ID CARD SHALL BE INSPECTED BEFORE VOTING IS ALLOWED.

3. The voter must be in good standing. Good Standing is demonstrated by active participation in polling station activities and abiding by the Constitution of the Party.

D. THE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE:

1. An election committee to conduct the polling station Elections shall be constituted by the Constituency Executive Committee  in accordance with Article 6,(16)(b) of the NPP Constitution.
2. The election committee as constituted shall be responsible for organizing all the Polling Station and Electoral Area elections.
3. This Committee shall constitute the Vetting Committee of the constituency.
4.  The Committee would set the modalities, and find the appropriate venue, materials, equipment and resources needed to carry out their functions.
5.  They shall strictly follow the election rules issued from the National Headquarters, and shall not be subjected to any interference from the Regional Executives or any other person(s).

 

II. ELECTORAL AREA COORDINATORS ELECTION

CONTESTANTS:

1. Anyone willing to contest as an Electoral area Coordinator shall be a card bearing member in good standing for 2 years.
2. The contestant shall be a member in good standing.  Good Standing is                                     demonstrated by active participation in polling station activities and abiding by the Constitution of the Party.
3. He/ She should be resident in one of the polling Stations constituting the Electoral area.
4. The Nomination forms for the Electoral Area elections shall cost GH¢1.00 and contestants shall pay a filling fee of GH¢5.00. The forms shall be obtained from the Secretary to the Constituency Elections Committee and filing done with the same person. The funds collected shall be used for the conduct of the electoral Area Elections.
5. Where any contestant encounters difficulty in obtaining Nomination forms at the constituency, he/she may obtain one from the Regional or National office of the Party.
6. Where the contestant has difficulty in filing his/her Nomination with the Constituency Elections Committee, he/she may file with any member of the Constituency Executive Committee.
7. The Contestant shall have one proposer. He/she shall also have one seconder from each polling station in the Electoral Area seconding the proposer. These persons shall be Card bearing members in good standing from the Polling Station areas within the Electoral Area, who can attest to their active participation in Party activities in the area.

 

 

1. Each contestant shall be vetted by the Constituency Elections Committee.
2. A contestant who is dissatisfied with the vetting process may appeal to the Regional Elections Committee within a day after the vetting process. The vetting appeals committee shall sit and determine the case immediately. (See Time table for timelines). The decision of the Regional Elections Committee shall be final.

 

ELECTORAL COLLEGE:

1. The electoral college of the Electoral Area Elections shall be all elected Polling Station Executives in the Electoral Area.

 

III. CONSTITUENCY EXECUTIVE ELECTIONS

INTRODUCTION:

The Constituency Executive elections shall be held simultaneously throughout the Country. It shall be conducted by the E.C. and supervised by the Regional Elections Committee.

 

1. CONTESTANTS:

1. The election is open to all Card bearing members in good standing for 2 years who are resident in the Constituency or hail from the constituency. Good Standing is demonstrated by active participation in Constituency activities and abiding by the Constitution of the Party.
2. Residency means that the contestant should have lived in the constituency for at least 3 years. If a contestant is in a newly created constituency, he/she should demonstrate that he/she was living in the old constituency before the split.
3. The Contestant shall have one proposer.  He/she shall also have one seconder from each polling station in the Constituency seconding the proposer. These persons shall be Card bearing members in good standing from the Polling Station areas within the Constituency, who can attest to their active participation in Party activities.
4. The Nomination Form for the constituency elections shall cost Ghs 20.00.

Filing Fees for Chairperson shall be Ghs 100.00 and Ghs50.00 for all others. Nomination forms shall be purchased from the Secretary of the Regional Elections Committee. The funds collected shall be given to the Regional Elections Committee for the conduct of the elections.

1. Where a contestant has difficulty in obtaining nomination forms at the constituency, he/she may pick forms from the Regional or National office of the party.
2.  Where a contestant has difficulty in filing his nomination with the Constituency Elections Committee, he/she may file with any member of the Constituency Executive Committee.
3. Each contestant shall be vetted by the Regional Elections Committee.
4. A contestant who is dissatisfied with the vetting process may appeal to the Regional Elections Appeals Committee within a day after his/her hearing. The Regional elections Appeal committee shall hear the appeal immediately. (See Timetable for timelines). The decision of the Regional Election Appeal Committee shall be final.

 

 

 

 

1. ELECTORAL COLLEGE – CONSTITUENCY ELECTIONS:

The Constituency Electoral College shall be as follows:

1. All current constituency officers (16 members, including the sitting MP)
2. All Elected Electoral Area Coordinators.
3. All elected polling Station Executive.
4. Five representatives of the Council of elders nominated by the council of Elders themselves.
5. Five representatives of the Council of Patrons nominated by the Council of Patrons themselves.

 

ELECTIONS COMMITTEE-CONSTITUENCY ELECTIONS:

An elections committee shall be constituted by the Regional Executive Committee to supervise the Constituency Elections. This should be chaired by the Chairman of the Constituency Council of Elders and should include a Rep from the Regional Executive Committee.

 

 

IV. REGIONAL ELECTIONS

1. INTRODUCTION:

The Regional Executive elections shall be held simultaneously throughout the Country. It shall be conducted by the E.C. and supervised by the Regional Elections Committee.

 

1. THE CONTESTANT:

1. The election is open to all Card bearing members in good standing for 2 years who are resident in the Region or hail from the Region. Good Standing is demonstrated by active participation in Regional activities and abiding by the Constitution of the Party.
2. Residency means that the contestant should have lived in the Region for at least 4 years.
3. The Contestant shall have one proposer from the Region. He/she shall also have one seconder from each Constituency in the Region seconding the proposer. These persons shall be Card bearing members in good standing from the Constituencies within the Region, who can attest to their active participation in Party activities.
4. The Nomination form for the Regional Elections shall cost Ghs 100.00.

Filing Fees for Chairperson and Vice shall be Ghs 1000.00 and Ghs500.00 for all others. Nomination forms shall be purchased from the Secretary of the Regional Elections Committee. The funds collected shall be used by the Regional Elections Committee to conduct the elections.

1. Where a contestant has difficulty in obtaining nomination forms at the constituency, he/she may pick forms from the Regional or National office of the party.

 

1. Where a contestant has difficulty in filing his nomination with the Regional Elections Committee, he/she may file with any member of the Regional Executive Committee.
2. Each contestant shall be vetted by the Regional Elections Committee.
3. A contestant who is dissatisfied with the vetting process may appeal to the National Elections Committee within a day after the vetting. The National Election Committee shall sit and determine the case immediately. (See attached Time Table). The decision of the National Elections Committee shall be final.
4. The Contestant for Regional Chairman or Vice shall be required to prove beyond reasonable doubt that he/she is capable of generating his/her own financial resources to fund his/her activities as a Regional Officer.

 

 

 

1. THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE: REGIONAL ELECTIONS:

1. The Regional Electoral College shall be as stated in the Party’s Constitution Article 7(13).
2. For the avoidance of doubt the members constituting the Regional College are as follows:

1. Members of the Regional Executive Committee
2. Members of Parliament in the Region
3. Members of the Constituency Executive Committee
4. Regional Representatives on the National Council
5. Ten (10) Members of the Council of Elders in the Region.
6. One Tescon Member from each recognized tertiary institution in the region
7. Ten(10) patrons in the Region, and
8. All Founding Members from the Region who are signatories to the registration documents of the Party at the Electoral Commission.

1. ELECTIONS COMMITTEE – REGIONAL

A Regional Elections Committee (REC) shall be constituted to supervise the Election. This shall include Chairman of the Regional Council of Elders and a representative of the National Executive

 

1. THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE ELECTIONS
   1. . The National Executive Elections shall be held at a Venue to be determined later.
   2. The Election shall be supervised by the Electoral Commission supported by a National Elections Committee.

 

 

THE CONTESTANT:

1. The election is open to all Card bearing members in good standing for 2 years who are residents or citizens of Ghana. Good Standing is demonstrated by active participation in Party activities and abiding by the Constitution of the Party.
2. Residency means that the contestant should have lived in the Country for at least 5 years.
3. The Contestant shall have two proposers from each region. He/she shall also have two seconders from each Region in Ghana seconding the proposer. These persons shall be Card bearing members in good standing from the Constituencies within the Nation, who can attest to their active participation in Party activities.
4. The Nomination form for the National Elections shall cost Ghs500.00.

Filing Fees for Chairpersons and Vice shall be Ghs3000.00 and Ghs2000.00 for all other officers. Nomination forms shall be purchased from the Secretary of the National Elections Committee.

1. Where a contestant has difficulty in obtaining Nomination Forms at the constituency, he/she may pick forms from the Regional or National office of the party.
2. Where a contestant has difficulty in filing his nomination with the National Elections Committee, he/she may file with any member of the National Executive Committee.
3. Each Contestant shall be required to prove beyond reasonable doubt that he/she is capable of generating his/her own resources to fund his activities as a National Officer.
4. Each contestant shall be vetted by the National Vetting Committee.
5. A contestant who is dissatisfied with the vetting process may appeal to the National Elections Committee within a day after the vetting. The National Elections Committee shall sit and determine the case immediately upon receipt of the appeal. (See attached time table). The decision of the National Elections Committee shall be final.

1. THE NATIONAL ELECTIONS- ELECTORAL COLLEGE

1. The National Annual Delegates Conference shall form the electoral college for the National Officers elections as stated in the Party Constitution, Article 9A(2)
2. For the avoidance of doubt the Electoral College shall be as follows:

1. Members of the National Council
2. Members of the National Executive Committee
3. All members of the Regional Executive Committees
4. All Members of the Constituency Executives committees
5. Fifteen (15) Members of the National Council of Elders
6. Twelve (12) delegates from every external branch as defined under section 8(2) of this Constitution.
7. One Tescon representative from each recognized tertiary institution in the country.
8. Fifteen (15) Patrons elected from among themselves.
9. Founding members across the country who is signatories to the Registration documents of the Party at the Electoral Commission.
10. All Members of Parliament

 

1. ELECTIONS COMMITTEE – NATIONAL

A National Elections Committee shall be constituted to organize the Elections. This committee shall be chaired by the Chairman of the National Council of Elders

PLEASE NOTE:

In accordance with Article 9,(c),3, of the Party Constitution, nomination of all officers shall be lodged with the General Secretary not later than Fourteen (14 ) days before the holding of the National Delegates Conference.