35 aspirants seeking to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region are appearing before the party’s Regional Elections Committee today as the contest enters a crucial vetting stage ahead of next month’s delegates conference.
The exercise, expected to continue on Tuesday if necessary, will determine which aspirants qualify to contest the various regional executive positions.
The vetting follows the close of nominations on Friday, when 35 aspirants — comprising 28 men and seven women — successfully filed to contest 11 executive positions.
The keenest contest is expected to be for the regional chairmanship, where former Afigya Kwabre South Constituency Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, popularly known as COKA, faces former Bantama Member of Parliament Dr Kwabena Kokofu.
Four aspirants are seeking election as First Vice Chairman, while three are contesting for Second Vice Chairman.
The race for Regional Secretary has attracted three candidates, with four vying for Deputy Secretary.
Three aspirants are contesting for Organiser, three for Women’s Organiser, four for Youth Organiser, three for Treasurer, four for Nasara Organiser and two for Communications Officer.
Speaking after the close of nominations, a member of the Regional Elections Committee, Kwaku Atta Sarpong, said the vetting had been provisionally scheduled for 20 and 21 July, subject to confirmation by the committee.
The Ashanti Region, regarded as the electoral stronghold of the NPP, is expected to hold its regional delegates conference in August to elect new executives as the party reorganises following its defeat in the 2024 general election.
Successful aspirants from the vetting process will proceed to the polls, where delegates will elect a new regional leadership expected to spearhead the party’s campaign towards the 2028 general election.
Source: asaaseradio.com
