Press Release

NPP Communications Directorate

October 15, 2014

TOGETHER WE SHALL RISE AGAIN
STATEMENT READ AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE 15TH OCTOBER 2014 AT THE NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS OF THE NPP

In a few days’ time, our Party will be electing our Presidential Candidate for the 2016 Elections. This exercise will be held in designated polling stations in all the constituencies throughout the country and the Party Headquarters at Asylum Down. I am happy to report that everything is set for the election. We commend the National Elections Committee headed by a former Member of the Council of State and illustrious member of our Party; Alhaji Bin Salih. Members of the Steering Committee must also be commended for occasionally helping with the work of the Elections Committee. I must also state that the IT Department did an excellent job; working long hours to ensure that the voters registers (albums) for all the 275 constituencies are in place.

As we get set to choose the Presidential Candidate of the Party, it is significant to remind our teaming members and supporters that, this election is an exercise to prepare us for the real battle. The Ghanaian people are boxed in a narrow space with no hope. The future has become bleak. In fact the state of hopelessness in our communities is largely due to the poor management of our resources. The NPP is the source of hope for our country men and women and we must not disappoint them.

It is against this background that we must go into the 2016 election as very united and purposeful. We must all start thinking about how we can deliver victory in 2016. That is why as members of the NPP; we owe it a duty to ourselves and to Ghanaians to:

• Conduct ourselves in a manner to ensure that we do not bring the name of the Party into disrepute in this exercise
• Be tolerant of each other’s opinion
• Respect each other
• Be disciplined in our approach to issues
• Be each other’s keeper

The reason we are a Political Party is to win Political Power to develop Ghana and improve the living standards of our citizens.

We urge the rank and file of our Party to be at peace with each other and regard the elections on Saturday as a significant step in our preparations towards victory in 2016 to govern the country well, transparently and fairly.
We expect the winner to be magnanimous and genuinely reach out to the losers and those who supported them. We call on the unsuccessful ones and their supporters to fully and unconditionally support the winner.

Genuinely working together as a team we can rise again. We are all in this struggle together for the redemption of the people of Ghana. Let’s think victory. 2016 is a must.

We once again congratulate the three Presidential Aspirants currently in the race as well as the four others. All have contributed immensely to enrich the contest.

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE ELECTION OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE ON THE 18TH OCTOBER 2014

This is to inform delegates, candidates and members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of the operating instructions for the election of the Party’s Presidential Candidate on 18th October 2014.

1. Conduct of Elections
The Election will be conducted by the Electoral Commission and under the general provisions of the Public Elections Regulations, 2012 C.I. 75. As such Presiding Officers of the EC will be in total control of the Polling Stations.

2. Polling Agents
A candidate may appoint two polling agents to attend at every polling station nationwide, but only one will be engaged at any given time.

3. Polling Hours and Admission to Polling Stations
The poll shall be taken between the hours of seven (7) o’clock in the morning and three (3) in the afternoon. Only those still in the queue after 3:00 pm will be allowed to vote.

4. Identifications and Verification of Voters
a. A presiding officer may, before delivering a ballot paper to a person to vote at the election, require the person to produce.
i. A voter identification card or
ii. A party membership card
b. In order to establish that the person is the voter whose name, picture and particulars appear in the album.
5. Secret Ballot (Article 49 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana)
Voting shall be by secret ballot and on first come first serve basis.

6. Voting by Proxy
a. All proxies should be eligible voters with their name on the proxy list and should also produce a copy of the proxy form.
Result of Election
1. The presiding officer shall immediately after the close of poll in the presence of the agents of the candidates.
a. Count the ballot papers at the Polling Station.
b. Record the total number of votes cast in favour of each candidate as well as total number of rejected ballots.
c. Sign a declaration and cause the agents to sign as to the results of the election.
d. Announce the results of the voting at that polling station.
e. Give each agent a copy of the declaration of results.

2. The results of the election shall be transmitted to the Regional Electoral Officer and the National Electoral Commission for collation in the presence of Candidate’s agents, and for declaration.

3. Aspirants are further entitled to nominate Two (2) agents to represent them at the results collation centre at the Electoral Commission Headquarters.
Declaration and Publication of Election Results
a. In accordance with the provisions of the Party’s Constitution, the candidates who receives more than fifty percent of the valid votes cast shall be declared elected as the presidential candidate of the party by the Electoral Commission.
b. Where no candidate obtains more than fifty percent of the valid votes cast, the Electoral Commission shall conduct a second election and the candidates who obtained the second highest number of votes shall subject to any withdrawal be the candidates in the subsequent election and the process shall be continued.

Polling Stations
a. For the purpose of the election, the district Electoral Officer shall prescribe the polling station in the constituency capital after the consultation with the constituency executive. The polling station shall be the polling station for persons entitled to vote in the constituency.
b. All regional officers and other persons required to vote at the regional centre shall note at the polling station in the constituency where the regional officer is sited.
c. The National Headquarters shall be the polling station for;
i. National Council Members
ii. National Executive Committee Members with the exception of Regional Officers and Members of Parliament
iii. National Council of Elders
iv. Past National Officers
v. Past President of Ghana
vi. Past NPP Presidential Candidates and Running Mate
vii. Three (3) Representatives of each of the Special Organs of the Party
viii. Twelve (12) delegates from every external branch as defined under section 8 (2) of the NPP Constitution

DO’S AND DONTS
• There shall be no campaigning at the polling station on Election Day.
• Party supporters shall not wear T’shirts of candidates to the polling station on Election Day.
• Voters who display the candidate of their choice at the polling station after marking the ballot paper will have their votes nullified (Art. 49 Secret Ballot).
• Refusal of candidate’s agents to sign declaration of results sheets will not invalidate the election results.
• No voter shall take photos of any “thumprinted” ballot paper.
• There shall be no violence at the polling station.
• No party official shall give directives to the presiding officer/delegates.
• No media house shall declare the election results of the election; only provisional results emanating from the various polling stations shall be communicated to the general public.
• Only the Electoral Commission of Ghana shall declare certified results of the election.
• Constituency patrons and council of elders are not eligible to vote.