Election 2020: NPP gives Akufo-Addo all-clear Saturday

Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo will be acclaimed as flagbearer for the 2020 polls on Saturday, June 27, 2020, a statement from the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) said on Wednesday.

The party’s General Secretary, John Boadu said in the statement that the acclamation by the National Council will be done after a meeting with the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

President Akufo-Addo, whose first term in office expires January 2021, was the only person to file nomination for the flagbearer position when the party opened nominations earlier this year.

Being the sole candidate, he was expected to be acclaimed at a National Congress, but according to Boadu, that cannot be done due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Given the constraints of COVID-19 and the resulting restrictions on public gatherings, the President will, in line with resolution of the party’s National Council, be acclaimed before the National Council on Saturday. After his acclamation, the President shall, in consultation with the National Council, nominate his Running Mate for the 2020 General Elections,” the party said.

Akufo-Addo names Bawumia as running mate to face Mahama

Mr Akufo-Addo, when acclaimed will face former President John Dramani Mahama, flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress, who is staging a come back after he was defeated in the country’s general elections in 2016.

The President after filing his nomination in February named his current Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as his running mate ahead of the keenly contested elections slated for December 7, 2020.

According to Nana Akufo-Addo, there was no need thinking about who to select as his running mate.

“Our party rules demand that you need to choose a vice-presidential nominee as soon as you are declared a flagbearer. This is not something we need to think so much about. As soon as I am declared as flagbearer, I am going with this same man. Dr. Mahamamudu Bawumia is the same man I’m running with. Still maintained, not changed,” said President Akufo-Addo.

Below is the full statement from the NPP:

June 24, 2020

PRESS RELEASE

ACCLAMATION OF H.E. PRESIDENT NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO-ADDO AS NPP’S 2020 FLAGBEARER

The Flag Bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the 2020 Presidential Elections, H.E. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, will be acclaimed by the National Council of the NPP this Saturday 27th June, 2020, at the Alisa Hotel in Accra. The acclamation will be preceded by a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) on Friday 26th June, 2020.

Article 13 (2) (1) of the NPP Constitution provides for acclamation where there is a sole Candidate for the Presidency by the close of nominations. His Excellency the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was the sole candidate for the NPP presidential slot. But for the coronavirus pandemic, he would have been acclaimed before a National Congress of the Party.

However, given the constraints of Covid-19 and the resulting restrictions on public gatherings, the President will, in line with resolution of the party’s National Council, be acclaimed before the National Council on Saturday. After his acclamation, the President shall, in consultation with the National Council, nominate his Running Mate for the 2020 General Elections.

ATTENDANCE TO THESE MEETING IS STRICTLY BY INVITATION, AND IT SHALL BE RESTRICTED TO ONLY MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL AND THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AS APPROPRIATE.

However, there will be live media coverage of the proceedings of the National Council meeting, which shall include the acclamation of both the Presidential Candidate and his Running Mate.

Thank you.

…Signed…

JOHN BOADU

GENERAL SECRETARY

Source: Daily Mail GH