NPP announces parliamentary primaries protocols for incumbent Members of Parliament

The National Secretariat of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) announces the release of protocols governing the conduct of the parliamentary primaries scheduled to take place on Saturday, January 27, 2024.

The release dated Monday, 22nd January 2023 signed by Justin Kodua Kodua Frimpong their General Secretary details all information.

The full release read

The National Secretariat announces the release of protocols governing the conduct of the parliamentary primaries scheduled to take place on Saturday, January 27, 2024.

These protocols have been formulated to ensure the integrity and fairness of the electoral process.

“There will be one voting centre in each constituency nationwide. However, in constituencies where there are many delegates, the Electoral Commission may create additional polling stations at the centre to ensure a speedy process.

All stakeholders are kindly entreated to comply with these provisions to ensure a smooth and transparent process.

It is important to note the following:

1. The Electoral Commission of Ghana shall supervise the conduct of the elections and shall have the full responsibility of ensuring a transparent, free, and fair election.

2. No person, whether a government appointee, party official, or otherwise, shall act in contravention of the Electoral Commission and these guidelines.

3. Security activities rest exclusively with the Ghana Police Service, and access beyond security perimeters is restricted to delegates, persons appointed by the National Secretariat and Region as election supervisors, contestants, and their accredited agents.

4. The National Secretariat has appointed a Regional Monitoring Team for each Region to coordinate and supervise the entire electoral process in the various Regions.

5. The Regional Party is directed to appoint a representative to monitor and supervise the election in each constituency. The Regional Party is urged to submit the names and contact numbers of individuals appointed for the various constituencies to the National Secretariat and furnish the Regional Police Command with copies by Wednesday, January 24, 2024.

6. The Regional representative shall have the mandate from the National Executive Committee (NEC) to oversee the organisation and conduct of the election of the Parliamentary Primaries. All issues concerning the conduct of the primaries must be referred to the representative.

7. There will be no congregation on the day of voting. Therefore, there shall be no provision to address delegates or the public by any national party executive, any government official, a regional party executive, constituency executives, contestants, or their representatives on the day of the voting.

8. There shall be no campaign, canvassing for votes, or gathering of party members for any purpose whatsoever a day before voting.

9. Voters are expected to “walk-in” freely by themselves. No delegate shall be escorted to the voting screen except those with mobility issues and with Electoral Commission consent.

10. A voter must wait to be cleared before entering the perimeter of queue control.

11. There shall be no CAMPING OF DELEGATES.

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12.No voter shall wear the colour or effigy of a contestant at the voting centre (i.e., T-shirts, caps, or posters of contestants).

13. Delegates shall not be allowed to enter the voting screen or booth in groups or in pairs.

14. Voting shall not take place indoors but in an open place in the full glare of the public. It is an offence for unaccredited persons to enter the voting perimeter.

15. A delegate who has already cast his or her vote shall not be re-admitted into the voting perimeter.

16. Any person found directing a delegate on which contestant to vote commits an offence and shall be removed by the police.

17. ALL VOTERS SHALL LEAVE THE DEMARCATED VOTING PERIMETERS IMMEDIATELY AFTER VOTING.

18. The Electoral Commission and the Police shall enforce and adhere to restricting delegates from taking their phones and other photographic gadgets to the voting screen.

19. Any vote that has been shown to the public shall be nullified.

20. The Electoral Commission and the Police shall deny influencers, “Machomen,” and undesignated persons access to the voting centres. All such persons shall be arrested.

21. The electoral voting shall be by walk-in standard practice; the individual shall approach the polling area and vote secretly.

22. Presiding officers shall not call out the names of delegates in the queue to vote.

23. Individuals will walk to the officials, and they will be assisted to vote accordingly.

24. Presiding officers shall issue ballots to one delegate at a time. For the sake of emphasis, presiding officers shall not issue ballots to people in pairs or groups of persons.

25. Ballot papers should not be torn from any booklet in advance.

26. Both valid and rejected ballots will be securely placed inside the designated ballot boxes and subsequently sealed with the seals of the contestants. Hence, no person or official can know how any voter voted. No person will have authority to break the seals for any purpose whatsoever except by an order of the High Court.

27. Delegates are to carry their identification cards (Voter I.D., Party Card, Passport, and Ghana Card) to verify their names.

28. Delegates are advised to conform to all electoral laws, regulations, and rules on the day of voting.

29. It is against the law to publicly display cast ballots, capture images of cast ballots, and make gestures to show whom one voted for. Anyone who is caught violating this provision shall have his or her vote declared a spoiled or rejected ballot.

30. The time for voting shall be 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

31. There will be no proxy voting.

32.No individual shall have the right to either remove names or insert names to replace deceased persons.

We trust that these protocols will contribute to a transparent, free, and fair electoral process.

We acknowledge with sincere gratitude the unwavering cooperation from all stakeholders as we pursue an equitable, impartial, and transparent process to elect our parliamentary candidates for the 2024 general elections. Thank you.

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh