THE HOPE of Mr Charles Kofi Wayo, a leading member of New Patriotic Party (NPP), to become one of the party?s presidential candidates for the 2004 general election, would be discussed at the party?s forthcoming congress.

Even though Mr Wayo has clearly stated his intention to contest the flabearership, a clause in the party?s constitution disqualifies him from even filing his nomination papers.

Article 12, of NPP?s Constitution which was adopted and promulgated on 29th August, 1998, at the party?s national delegate congress in Sunyani states that ?no member of the party shall be entitled to nomination as the party?s presidential candidate unless he or she is:

(i) A known and active member of at least five (5) years standing; (ii) Of good character; (iii) Otherwise of good standing; (iv) Has paid the prescribed fee for presidential aspirants by the dead line set by the National Executive Committee (NEC); (v) Found to be qualified to be presidential candidate by the Vetting Committee; (vi) Has signed the ?Undertaking for Presidential Aspirants?; (vii) The member?s nomination has been endorsed in writing by at least one hundred (100) members in good standing, ten (10) from each region?.

In the first of the foregoing subsections, the party?s constitution clearly sets out the criteria that aspirants who have not been members of the party for at least five years cannot be allowed to run for office as presidential candidates of the NPP.

Significantly, Kofi Wayo?s nomination could not be accepted by the party?s executives due to the fact that he joined the party only three years ago (1999), i.e. during the election campaign for the 2000 general elections.

A source at the NPP headquarters told the Daily Guide that it is never the intention of the party to disqualify any member, but it will go strictly according to the party?s constitution.

Meanwhile, the party is yet to receive any nomination from qualified members for the position of presidential candidate, even though it has opened nomination for the election which is scheduled to take place by the end of this year.

A statement issued by the party two weeks ago and signed by Mr Kwadwo Antwi Agyei on behalf of Dan Botwe, general secretary of NPP, noted that filling of nominations shall close on September 3, 2002.

There is the high belief of some members of the party that President Kufuor would be nominated without any challenger.