The race to lead the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has narrowed to four men after the party's vetting committee threw out 23 aspirants for national executive positions.
Sofo Azorka, the party's National Vice-Chairman, will face former ministers Akwasi Oppong-Fosu and Nii Armah Ashietey, plus former Odododiodio MP Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, in the contest for national chairman.
In all, 121 aspirants were vetted, with one failing to show up.
Of those, 98 were cleared, while 23 were disqualified. Dr Peter Boamah Otokunor, spokesperson for the Congress Elections Committee, announced the results at a press briefing at Rawlings House, the party's headquarters in Accra, on Thursday evening.
Some already winners
Five officers have no opponents and will be sworn in at Congress. They include incumbent General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, Joseph Yammin for National Organiser and Godwin Ako-Gunn for Communications Officer. The two deputy women's organiser slots also go uncontested, since only two of the four nominees passed vetting.
Where the cuts fell
The heaviest casualties were in the National Executive Committee race, where 49 aspirants filed, but only 32 were cleared and 16 were disqualified. For National Youth Organiser, four filed, with two cleared and two disqualified. In the race for Deputy National Youth Organiser, all six aspirants who filed were cleared.
Why they were dropped
Dr Otokunor said nearly everyone disqualified failed to meet a requirement the party constitution sets for national executive aspirants. One person never finished filing and so was never vetted.
A second chance
Disqualified aspirants have two days to appeal. If the appeals committee rules that someone was wrongly removed, it will publish its decision and put the candidate on the ballot.
Campaign warning
Cleared candidates can start campaigning nationwide and will receive delegate lists. Dr Otokunor asked them to keep it clean and avoid insults and personal attacks. He added that campaign materials such as billboards, banners and posters must follow the party's modesty guidelines, and that the party is monitoring them closely. So far, he said, candidates have complied well.
What's next
Nominations ran from November 7 to 9, and 121 of the 138 people who picked forms filed. Vetting began on November 11 for 14 national executive positions. The Youth and Women's Wing elections are scheduled for December 13 and 14, while the national executive elections will take place at the Ninth Delegates Congress on December 19. Government appointees cannot contest executive posts unless they resign.
