The Majority Chief Whip in Parliament, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has said that approximately 95 percent of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament have expressed their support for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the upcoming Presidential election.
Over 200,000 delegates from across the country are expected to participate in the elections scheduled for Saturday, November 4, 2023.
The exercise, which will elect a flagbearer to represent the party in the 2024 General Elections, will take place in every constituency across all 16 regions of the country.
While expressing optimism about the victory of Dr. Bawumia as the flagbearer of the NPP in an interview, the legislator said: “We know it is a foregone decision, Dr Bawumia is going to win hands down. It used to be around 80 percent. Now it’s moved higher. We are now doing like 95 percent of MPs who clearly believe that we should rally behind the Vice President. We are now hovering around 95 percent. It will even get better on the D-Day, and I think it’s looking extremely good. Our focus now is to ensure that after Saturday, we progress into a united front,” the Nsawam Adoagyiri MP said.
Frank Annoh-Dompreh
The NPP is gearing up for its presidential primaries on Saturday, November 4.
The four aspirants contesting the flagbearer position have signed an undertaking not to resign from the party if any of them loses the primary on Saturday.
The decision was reached at a meeting between the National Council of Elders and the aspirants.
Dr. Bawumia is the frontrunner in the race, but he faces stiff competition from Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong.
A recent poll by the Institute of Research, Innovation & Development at Kumasi Technical University found that Bawumia stands a greater chance of winning the upcoming NPP flagbearer race, as he will
most likely secure an overwhelming victory in eight regions.
The poll found that 71.1% of NPP delegates believe that Bawumia has a higher chance of breaking the eight-year cycle, while 26.8% of them stated that Kennedy Agyapong stands a better chance.
The other two contestants include the former Agriculture Minister, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and former MP for Mampong, Francis Addai-Nimoh
FINAL COMMUNICATION FROM HON. ING. FRANCIS ADDAI-NIMOH TO NPP DELEGATES AHEAD OF PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ON NOVEMBER 4TH, 2023
3rd November 2023
Dear Delegates,
First of all, let me use this opportunity to thank you for electing me during the superdelegates conference to be part of the forerunners for this election. If it were by words of pollsters, Francis Addai-Nimoh would have been long forgotten. But, you, the distinguished delegates of our Party, showed the world and the doubting Thomases, that, you reward hardwork and loyalty, hence your selection of Addai-Nimoh as part of the five.
I’m really grateful for this gesture from you. And, I ask you to spare a moment of your time to ponder over my message to you before the crucial presidential primary tomorrow, 4th November.
The time has come, once again, for you to vest the power given to you by our Party’s constitution, in someone who will then become the Party’s flagbearer. This will be done democratically, per the tenets of our Party’s constitution.
By choosing someone to lead the Party, ahead of the crucial 2024 general elections, it means that you have effectively vested the moral authority of the Party in that person.
A person wielding the moral authority of our great Party, the NPP, ought to exude certain qualities that typify the ethos and values of our Party. Amongst such ethos and values are tolerance, comportment, truthfulness, selflessness, etc.
Delegates, when you choose someone with these qualities, it comes with enormous benefits to the Party. By making such a choice, the Party will stand united and galvanized, making victory in 2024 a possibility.
In addition, your choice, while it ought to be grounded in the Party’s interest, it should also factor in the broader Ghanaian society. Ghanaians will question our choice as to whether that choice has the right set of competencies to deliver this country from the doldrums we find ourselves. Does the choice have the credibility, integrity, and foresight to lead Ghana? – will be one of the questions Ghanaians will ask.
Therefore, our choice, on 4th November should be motivated by a pair of considerations, i.e., Party interest and national interest. Who, amongst the four, if elected, will be a unifier to whom every Party person will feel comfortable to go to without fear of reprisals? Who, amongst the four, if elected, will Ghanaians vouch for his unblemished integrity, and thus, trust to lead Ghana?
I remind you, dear delegates, that, I have served this Party for many years. Despite my enormous contributions to the Party’s victory in 2016, and my subsequent alienation from government, I have remained loyal and committed to the Party’s cause. I have not acted in any way to soil the image of the Party, despite the obvious attempts to suppress me.
Trained as a civil engineer, after many years in public service, my integrity remains unquestionable. I have, suo motor, risen to my current status by the grace of God and dint of hardwork. This shows my unbending inner strength and capacity to achieve.
It is very clear, from the campaigns, that, I am the one candidate who has ran a message-based campaign, devoid of drama, attacks, aspersions, etc. This is testament of my comportment, discipline, and resolute temperament – which all go to the core of the kind of tolerance needed to unite the Party ahead of 2024.
I am clear in my mind that any other candidate, apart from Addai-Nimoh, may cause the Party to break at 8 instead of breaking the 8. Francis Addai-Nimoh represents the new face, who has the dual appeal to the rank and file of the Party, and the general Ghanaian populace.
Put the Party on the cusp of breaking the eight-year tradition by electing me. I promise not to disappoint you. The days where delegates are treated as hewers of wood and drawers of water are over, should Addai-Nimoh emerge as victor of the presidential primary. I am number of 4 on the ballot – aseɛ hɔ aa.
Let’s change the course of history, together.
Thank you for your attention.
God bless NPP.
God bless Ghana.
Francis Addai-Nimoh
Former MP, Mampong and Aspiring Flagbearer of the NPP
The General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Frimpong Kodua, says he is optimistic that the party will emerge united after the November 4 election to select the party’s presidential candidate for the 2024 election.
According to him, the party will be able to reconcile its rank and file to pursue its agenda of ‘breaking the 8.’
He made this comment in an interview on Joy FM’s Top Story on Thursday, November 2.
This was after the party in a move to avoid a repeat of members breaking away after elections, asked all four aspirants to sign a stringent legal commitment.
This means that Kennedy Agyapong, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Francis Addai-Nimoh, and Dr. Afriyie Akoto cannot resign from the party if any of them loses the elections on Saturday.
The decision was reached at a meeting between the National Council of Elders and the aspirants.
Asked if the presidential aspirants have been sincere in the signing of the undertaking, he responded in the affirmative.
“Absolutely, from what happened today, it was very genuine and I can tell you that the NPP will come from this November 4 election stronger,” he said.
Addressing the press at Alisa Hotel after the signing of the undertaking, Mr Frimpong Kodua noted that the candidates also agreed to accept the results of the election, adding that the undertaking will be enforced.
“The New Patriotic Party today has had a very successful meeting involving all the major stakeholders in the party including President Akufo-Addo and former President Kufuor.”
“At the meeting, all four aspirants were made to sign an undertaking to the effect that they would not resign from the party should they not win the elections. They have also signed an undertaking to support the winner of the primaries for the party to win the 2024 main elections”, Mr Kodua said.
The Institute of Research Innovation & Development at Kumasi Technical University, in its latest poll, has disclosed that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia stands a greater chance of winning the upcoming New Patritoc Party (NPP) flagbearer race as he will most likely secure an overwhelming victory in eight regions.
Ahead of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential primaries on Saturday, November 4, many researchers have tipped Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as leading the race, with Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong being his closest contender.
The latest to conduct a poll on the upcoming election is the Institute of Research Innovation & Development at Kumasi Technical University.
The director of the Institute, who is the lead researcher for the poll, Prof. Smart Sarpong, in an interview with Citi News, disclosed that 15,595 NPP delegates were engaged.
He noted that the key components considered among the four aspirants were who is the most unifying, who has the most visible leadership qualities, who is most likely to break the “8,” as well as non-policy factors such as religion and ethnicity were taken into account.
Prof. Smart Sarpong disclosed that 71.1% of the respondents said Dr. Bawumia has a higher chance of breaking the “8,” while 26.8% of them stated that Kennedy Agyapong stands a better chance of breaking the “8.” 1.8% and 0.3% chose Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto and Mr. Addai Nimo, respectively.
69.9% also described Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the most unifying, whereas 19.4% said Kennedy Agyapong is the most unifying. In terms of being the most unifying, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto had 8.5%, while Francis Addai Nimo had 2.2%.
In terms of being the aspirant with the most visible leadership qualities, 70.5% of the delegates engaged chose Dr. Bawumia, and 19.4% mentioned Mr. Kennedy Agyapong. 8.1% and 2.0% of the delegates chose Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto and Addai Nimo, respectively.
With respect to how religion or ethnocentrism can influence the choice of vote, 13.4% said religion would be taken into consideration, while 86.4% said they would not consider religion. 13.8% of the delegates said they would strongly consider ethnicity, while 86.2% said they would not consider one’s ethnic background before voting for them. 97.1% noted they would take into account the past record of each person before voting for them, while 2.9% said that factor would not be considered.
Out of the 16 regions and the one national headquarters, Prof. Smart Sarpong revealed that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has a commanding lead in eight (8) regions with an average of 81.9%.
“Out of these 17 clusters (the 16 regions and the NPP national headquarters), I see 8 of the clusters being already decided. The Vice President has taken a very good lead. Those regions include; North East, Northern region, Upper East and Upper West, Ashanti, Bono, Eastern, and Volta.”
Prof. Smart Sarpong further noted that their research predicts that the election would be open in five regions, as none of the aspirants has a clear lead.
He, however, noted that the work the aspirants put in a few days before the election could change the dynamics.
“It is 50/50 for any aspirant who works extra harder. Those 5 regions include the Western region, Savannah region, BonoEast region, the party headquarters, and Western North.”
The research also showed that Mr. Kennedy Agyapong could have a clear lead in four other regions if he works harder, as he is leading with an average of 49.6%.
“The following regions have the potential of going for Hon. Ken Ohene Agyapong. They are likely going to go for him. It doesn’t mean he should go to sleep on them. He should try and consolidate whatever gains he has in these four regions. So, Hon. Ken and the team, Oti region, Greater Accra region, Central region, and Ahafo region.”
Reacting to the latest poll, the spokesperson of the Kennedy Agyapong campaign team in the Ashanti region, William Kusi, insists that despite the research stating that their candidate is not strong enough in the Ashanti region, their own poll states otherwise.
“Our candidate, for instance, has combed the whole country, and we as a campaign team have also done a lot of work, especially in the Ashanti region. We have heard of the sponsored polls that have come out and are giving Dr. Bawumia the lead, but we disagree because on the ground, we are far ahead.
For instance, our internal polls suggest that we are going to have 75-80 percent support in the Ashanti region. So, when I heard of the polls from the one who always fails, Ben Ephson, for instance, I was like, what is happening? Smart Sarpong at the regional level did so well with his polls. It was accurate, but he is getting it wrong this time,” he said.
General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Frimpong Kodua says any aspirant who attempts to induce delegates during the presidential primaries will be dealt with.
This, according to him, will help ensure a fair and transparent process on November 4.
Speaking on JoyNews, the General Secretary said security personnel will be on standby to arrest party officials who try to bribe delegates.
“If it (inducement) happens within the perimeters where we are going to have the elections, definitely the police will arrest anyone who tries to induce anyone to vote for him.
“Anyone who makes an attempt to take a photo in the ballot box or show his ballot paper will also be arrested by the police.”
He stressed that although it will be ridiculous for any aspirant to bribe the over two hundred thousand delegates expected to cast their votes, inducement or any form of vote buying will not be tolerated.
Mr. Justin Kodua Frimpong assured that the election outcome will be based on merit.
“I believe the elections on Saturday will be determined based on merits and how aspirants have been able to sell their message to the delegates.
“For us as a political party together with the committee our focus is to make sure we have a successful and transparent election.
“In matters of strategies and how an aspirant will run his campaign, we leave it to them. They have to decide which strategy they are going to use but I can assure you money will not determine who will win the election on Saturday,” he added.
Meanwhile, a total of 203,439 delegates are expected to partake in the NPP, presidential elections scheduled for Saturday, November 4, 2023.
The election, which will elect a flagbearer to represent the party in the 2024 general elections will take place in the various constituencies across all 16 regions of the country.
Addai Nimoh,Ken , Baeumia and Dr.Akoto Afriyie
The contest is between the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, former Agric Minister, Dr Owusu Akoto Afriyie, and former MP for Mampong Francis Addai-Nimoh.
This was after former Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen resigned from the party after the Special Delegates Conference and declared his intention to contest as an independent candidate
Members of the Association of Polling Station Executives in the Ashanti Region, have asked the Assin Central MP and aspirant for the NPP flagbearership, Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, to pay them the same amount he dished out to Constituency Chairmen during the Super Delegates elections, if he wants their support come Saturday November 4.
The Polling Station Executives are also challenging Hon. Kennedy Agyapong to make public the amount he paid to the Constituency Chairmen in the run up to the Super Delegates elections held in August this year.
Reacting to the recent allegations leveled against the Vice President, the Polling station executives said they would not hesitate to throw their support behind Hon. Kennedy Agyapong’s bid if he pays them the same amount he gave to the Constituency Chairmen during the Super Delegates elections.
Ken Agyapong
“Hon. Kennedy Agyapong is going round accusing the Vice President of paying so so and so cash to Constituency Chairmen without any basis, what he has also refused to tell the public is how much he also paid to these Chairmen during the Special Delegates elections because Ghanaians are also interested to know” they argued.
The polling station chairmen therefore cautioned Hon. Kennedy Agyapong and his Campaign Team to desist from the dirty campaigning.
We Don’t Care How Much Bawumia Gave, all we want is to Break The 8- Association of Electoral Coordinators assert
Members of the Association of Electoral Area Coordinators in the Ashanti Region,have fired the Assin Central MP and an aspirant for the NPP flagbearership, Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, over his frivolous claims of bribery against the Vice President, His Excellency, Dr. Alhaji Mahamadu Bawumia.
Dr.Mahudu Baeumia and Ken Agyapong
According to the members of the Association, their main preoccupation is not about how much an aspirant is paying or not paying for transportation fates,stressing that their major focus is to support the Vice President’s ambition to lead the party to achieve the ultimate aim of Breaking The 8 year election cycle.
They are therefore calling on the Assin Central MP to desist from the dirty inferior tactics which have the tendency to hurt the unity and progress of the party.
“We want to sound this caution unambiguously to Hon. Kennedy Agyapong and his Team that we the Coordinators in the Ashanti Region are really focused on helping the Vice President to achieve the unprecedented historic victory in 2024” the group warned.
The four aspirants contesting the flagbearer election of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have signed an undertaking not to resign from the party if any of them loses the primary on Saturday.
The decision was reached at a meeting between the National Council of Elders and the aspirants.
Addressing the press after the meeting, the General Secretary of the party, Justin Frimpong Koduah, said that the aspirants have also agreed to accept the results of the primary and to put the interest of the party first.
“We were able to get all the four aspirants to sign an undertaking and in summary, they are to accept the primary results, and promote peace and cohesion,” Koduah said. “If they don’t win, they will not resign from the party and, support the winner of the primary.”
The aspirants have also agreed to “ensure and enforce mechanisms that have been established by the party and also work within the timelines and duration that have been established by the party from now till the results are declared and to respect the decision of the delegates of our party.”
The Chairman of the Council of Elders, at the commencement of the meeting, bemoaned the state of the party, indicating that it had been plunged into disunity by the selfish interests of some individuals.
He indicated that the race for the flagbearer position has, at times, generated passionate debates and disagreements within the party and among supporters of the presidential candidates but he called on all the presidential aspirants to eschew divisiveness and stay united after Saturday’s presidential primary.
Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is tipped to win Saturday’s presidential primary. His closest contender is Kennedy Agyapong, MP for Assin Central. Also in the race for the flagbearership slot are former Minister for Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto and former Mampong MP Francis Addai-Nimoh
The Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has asked stakeholders of the presidential primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to comply with its directives to ensure that the elections are held in a peaceful and orderly manner.
In a statement signed and issued by Simon Osei-Mensah, Chairman of Ashanti REGSEC, on Wednesday, he stressed that the security of the premises will be the responsibility of the State Security, and as such, no machomen or any other private security will be tolerated on the premises.
“No motorbikes will be allowed in and around the premises; no T-shirts, dresses, paraphernalia, or any other item embossed with the names or pictures of aspirants will be allowed on the premises; only staff of the Electoral Commission, accredited polling agents of aspirants, and delegates voting are allowed within the inner perimeter of the premises.”
“Delegates are not allowed to go into the inner perimeter with mobile phones; delegates are advised to leave the premises as soon as they cast their votes; bodyguards of ministers, deputy ministers, and other dignitaries are not allowed to enter the inner perimeter, and bodyguards of ministers, deputy ministers, and other dignitaries are not allowed to carry their weapons within the premises,” he stated.
Hon.Simon Osei-Mensah
Mr. Osei-Mensah further underscored that delegates who report to the premises after 2:00 PM will not be allowed to vote, but any delegate who is in the queue before 2:00 PM and has not voted will be allowed to vote. declare
“The Council wishes to state that anyone who flouts any of the above directives will be dealt with,” he added.
