PNC aspirants hopeful , Thursday, November 10, 2011, pg 16

THE usual bubble and carnival that characterise the vetting of aspirants for national executive and flag bearer positions of political parties in the country was missing on Tuesday, at the Peoples National Convention (PNC) Headquarters at Kotobabi in Accra where the party’s vetting committee began vetting a number of aspirants.

The brass bands, the traditional drummers, the colourful twists and turns of dancers , and the vociferous cheering supporters were no where to be found  rather, the various aspirants were routinely outdoing each other with their posters plastered all over the place. A party source told the Daily Graphic that the euphoria would pick up as aspirants for the hot seats come up later in the week.

Speaking to the Daily Graphic after her vetting, Miss Janet Nabila , an aspirant for the position of  Women Organiser said “the vetting went well and I am hopeful that I will go through. I believe, I handled the questions well.”

Even before she  received  the nod from members of the vetting committee, Miss Nabila said she would sweep at least 60 per cent of the votes to win the seat.

Mr  Abas Nuhu, an aspirant for the Youth Organiser position, also expressed similar sentiments saying “the members of the committee were fair and I am hopeful of going through successfully and winning.”

 Mr Emmanuel  Wilson Jnr who is vying for the National Organiser position told the Daily Graphic that his expectation was that the vetting would be free and fair.

“It is very important that the process is credible and only persons who satisfy the requirements of the 1992 and the party’s constitutions are chosen. It should not be in such a way to give people the means not  to litigate,  but I am sure we have very competent committee members who have the interest of the party at heart,” he stated.

The week-long process began  with the vetting of Youth and Women organiser aspirants on Tuesday, with National Organiser and Treasurer taking their turn yesterday. That of the General Secretary will be today, National Chairman on Friday while flagbearership aspirants will be grilled on Saturday.

If successful, about 2000 delegates are expected to decide the fate of Dr Edward Mahama and Mr Hassan Abulai Ayariga who are contesting the flagbearership position, and 19 other aspirants, at the party’s congress scheduled  from November 25 to 27,2011 in Sunyani.

Dr Mahama’s appearance before the committee on Saturday will be his fifth  bid  to lead the party since 1996 but he faces a formidable challenge from the relatively young Mr Mahama who announced his entrance to the political limelight some few months back.

Among the other hopefuls are Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, the current Party Chairman, Mr David Nibi, Dr Edward Gyader, Mr Thomas Akumyoung and Dr Somtim Tobiga for the chairmanship race; and   Hajia Hajara Ali, the only person for the Vice Chairmanship  contest. In the General Secretary position, incumbent General Secretary, Mr Bernard Mornah faces opposition from Mr Atik Mohammed and Mr Henry Haruna Asante.

While the National Organiser’s post is a battle between Mr Emmanuel Wilson Jnr, Mr Omar Ahmed Bekure and Mr Abubakr K. Ebla, the National Women Organiser’s post  is a straight contest between Ms Jane Nabila and Elizabeth Amedekanyu with Mr Abu Radaman, Abas Nuhu and Colson Akanbasian vying for the seat of the Youth Organiser.

According to party sources, the aspirants would  be quizzed on their membership and contribution to the development of the party.

The five- member vetting committee, chaired by Mr Alhassan Azong, a member of Parliament for Builsa South is expected to drill the 19 aspirants on their grasp of the party's philosophy, ideology, as well as personal visions, to ensure that the party sweeps it way to victory in the 2012 elections.

Other members of the committee are Mr Moses Daniba, former MP for Sisala East; Mr Haruna Bayirga, MP for Sisala West; Mr Godfred Agyekum, the Greater Accra Secretary of the party and Janet Nabila.

Briefing the media, Mr Azong stated that the exercise so far had been fruitful with no hiccups, adding that among other things only party members with good standing would be considered for the position.

He said aspirants especially those who already occupied national positions would be quizzed on their achievements and measures they would put in place to reposition the party of choice for the electorates.