The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Justin Frimpong Kodua, has explained the rationale behind the barring of MMDCES, Party executives, from contesting incumbent MPs.
He said that it was a decision taken by the National Council of the party to ensure that these party officers support and throw their weight behind the incumbent MPs to retain the seat.
Speaking to Kwaku Dawuro on Movement in the morning show on Movement TV/ Wontumi Radio, he noted that “they are expected to protect and promote the works of the incumbent Members of Parliaments and not to contest them. The MMDCEs and the MPs are all in the same constituency and as such, it’s their duty to project and not to undermine their works. Hence, the reason that party has decided that it’s best they come together to work for the party”.
This comes on the back of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) barring its national, regional, and constituency executives, as well as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) from contesting incumbent MPs of the party in next year’s parliamentary elections.
The party has further approved detailed rules and regulations to guide the conduct of presidential and parliamentary primaries which would be made available to the public in due course.
The decision to bar the party’s executives and MMDCEs from contesting their sitting MPs was contained in a statement dated April 3, 2023, and signed by the party’s General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong.