Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, a flagbearer candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), will deposit his nomination forms at the party’s headquarters in Asylum Down, Accra, today, June 19, 2023.
He will be accompanied by past national and regional party officers, former Members of Parliament, constituency executives, Electoral Area Coordinators, and Polling Station Executives.
Dr Akoto will address the media and thousands of party supporters who believe in his vision immediately after submitting the nomination forms.
According to sources close to the intelligent politician, Dr Akoto will deliver a significant statement outlining his vision for the party and the country in general.
According to Dr Akoto’s close allies, if this vision is approved and followed, it will shift the fortunes of the party and dramatically improve Ghana’s economy.
On May 29, 2023, a group of farmers and friends chose the nomination papers on behalf of the former Minister of Food and Agriculture as a show of support for his presidential aspiration.
By filing candidature forms on Monday, the two-time Member of Parliament for Kwadaso would become the third ambitious candidate to do so, following former Trade and Industry Minister Alan Kyerematen and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
Alan and Bawumia both turned in their applications on Monday, June 12, 2023 and Friday, June 16, 2023, respectively.
The NPP launched nominations on May 26, 2023, and hopefuls had until June 24 to submit applications.
So far, ten presidential candidates have taken up candidature papers to run for the NPP’s flagbearer position.
They include Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, a former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Kennedy Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, the immediate past Minister of Trade and Industry, Kwabena Adjei Agyapong, a former General-Secretary of the Party, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice-President of the Republic of Ghana, and Joe Ghartey, the Member of Parliament for Essikadu-Ketan and former Minister of Railway Development.
Boakye Agyarko, a former Minister of Energy, Prof. Addai Nimoh, a former Mampong MP, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, a former Minister of Trade and Industry, and Kwadwo Nsafoa Opoku, a specialist in energy and related topics, round out the group.
On August 26, 2023, a Special Delegates Congress will be convened to choose five presidential candidates.
The top five candidates will then compete for the position of flagbearer on December 4, 2023, to choose one to lead the party in the 2024 general election.
