Former Local  Government  Minister Calls  On NPP NEC  -To Expand Electoral College To Include All Registered Members In Good Standing

The former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr. Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, has once again advised the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to devise innovative strategies and measures to expand the electoral college to include all registered members of the party who are in good standing.

According to Mr. Adjei-Darko, this advice has become necessary because it will go a long way to reduce the monetization of the party's internal election for various executive positions.

Mr. Adjei-Darko recalled that in  2007, he made the same proposal in which he advised to the effect that every constituency of the NPP should register the party members in each constituency and issue them an approved party card.

He added that his advice also entailed that 
each member so registered should pay monthly dues of GH¢2.00.

He continued that, assuming 12000 members register in a constituency out of which 10000 regularly pay their monthly dues, this will give a constituency GH¢ 20,000 per month.

"In calculations, let them keep 50% of the monthly dues in the constituency account and remit 25% to the regional party office and 25% to the national party headquarters," he noted.

He explained that by this arrangement, each constituency will have an average of GH¢ 10000 every month to work with if the party will agree to constitute this procedure. 

In the adoption of this approach proposed, he stressed that every 16 regions will get GH¢ 5000.00 by the total registered number of constituencies in that region per month.

He mentioned that the National Headquarters of the NPP also get GH¢ 5000.00 from 275 constituencies which will be equal to GH¢ 1,375,000 every month. 

Speaking in an interview with Soireenews.com, Honorable Adjei-Darko stated that "f all members of the party will continuously have paid for 2 years, such members of the party should be agreed to qualify to vote for the party's Executives elections at all levels.

He added that "those members should vote for the selection of parliamentary candidates, constituency, regional, national and flagbearer-ship positions of the NPP."

He said, he has come out with this proposal as he did in 2007 for the expansion of the electoral college, this arrangement will help reduce the influence of money in the NPP internal primaries and other party elections.

He said if his approach will be accepted, it will also reduce the desire of some members going as independent candidates to contest the same position such a person is vying for in the same contest. 

He stressed the party's National Executive leadership as well as the research committee to consider this proposal to protect the party's future elections. 

Story: Opamago Paparichy