Kennedy Kankam kicks Against NPP NEC Decision

Report by NANA NYARKO/Ayisah Foster
Municipal Chief Executive for Asokore Mampong in the Ashanti Region, Kennedy Kankam has stated firmly that the decision by the National Council of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) barring certain government appointees from contesting parliamentary primaries, is untenable.
The NPP has stated that it would not allow specific categories of appointees to contest seats where the party has sitting MPs.
According to Hon. Kankam, however, the guidelines barring National, Regional, and Constituency Party Executives and MMDCEs from contesting the party’s presidential and parliamentary primaries will spell doom for the party in the 2024 general elections.
“If the Party thinks banning MMDCEs too from contesting sitting MPs will increase the number of MPs in election 2024, it won’t. It even worsened the case as it happened the last time.
“I’m not doing it for my gains but the right thing must be done to provide equal opportunities to all,” the current MCE for Asokore Mampong pointed out on Hello FM in Kumasi.
He asked: “How can you ban MMDCEs and allow CEOs, Ministers, and Deputy Ministers to contest sitting MPs? The decision is wrong and Executives must have a second look at the decision,” Hon. Kennedy Kankam advised.
The NPP will open nominations for the upcoming Parliamentary Elections on February 24, 2024, the party’s general secretary announced late Monday, March 3.
In a statement announcing the party’s approved timeline for presidential and parliamentary primaries, the National Council of the party barred national, regional, and constituency party executives and MMDCEs from contesting in constituencies where the party has sitting Members of Parliament
The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has announced Friday, May 26, 2023, for the opening of nominations for presidential primaries with the closing date fixed for Saturday, June 24, 2023.
For sitting MPs, nominations will open on December 20, 2023, and close on January 4, 2024.
“The Party has also approved detailed Rules and Regulations to govern the conduct of both the presidential and parliamentary primaries which would be made available to the public in due course.”