The flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Akufo-Addo has said he would stick by the party’s decision to allow only female candidates contest in constituencies where they have incumbent female MPs.
The party has suggested that none of its 16 incumbent female MPs should be contested by men in the primaries scheduled for May this year.
Nana Addo, who was at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting that arrived at the decision, told Starr News on Tuesday the resistance that met the directive was expected.
“It’s not everything that the party orders that would be to the taste of every member,” the three-time flagbearer of the main opposition stated.
Hundreds of supporters of the NPP on Tuesday stormed the national headquarters to demonstrate against an affirmative action fiat issued by the NEC. Earlier NPP opened nominations for aspiring candidates.
Nana who does not have any personal opposition towards the order said the party would only take a second look at it if members argue strongly against it.
“The decision was made by the National Executive of the party as part of the processes leading to our campaign and the programme to our elections … it’s caused some criticisms. I think it’s normal, we’ll see what will come out of it. But first of all it’s the decision of the national executive. If there is agitation for the party to take a look at it again so be it. But that is so far the position of the party, and I’m a loyal party man I support it,” Nana Addo averred.
He, however, disagreed with the schools of thought that the decision would break the party’s back and reduce its competitive advantage in the 2016 general elections.
Nana Addo noted: “I don’t see it breaking the party apart. I think the party is much stronger than that. Whether it would cost us the elections is also another matter…we believe we have a programme and we would show the country we have the better programme for Ghana and we are in a better position to give Ghanaians the relief and the development and the prosperity that they want.”
Source: Starrfmonline