The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has debunked speculations that it has, through an internal memo, announced a new date to hold its impending parliamentary and presidential primaries.

According to the General Secretary of the ruling party, John Boadu, such rumours are false and have been fabricated by some unscrupulous persons to create disaffection for the party and its leaders.

John Boadu in the statement again firmly emphasized that leadership of the NPP “…has, till date, not met at any level, to review this position following the President’s decision to lift the partial lockdown imposed on some major cities in the country”.

The NPP had initially planned to hold its primaries on January 12, 2020, but upon several complaints from some aspiring candidates, April 25, 2020, was scheduled.

However, following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus and the subsequent directives by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to ban social gatherings in all its forms, the party was forced to suspend the primaries indefinitely.

The party statement announcing the indefinite suspension indicated that: “The National Steering Committee, by reason of Article 10(10)(1) of the party’s constitution, is the body responsible for overseeing the daily management of the party, and is thus mandated to ‘act on behalf of the party on urgent matters’ such as in the circumstances we find ourselves as a party and nation owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. It would, indeed, be recalled that the President of the Republic, on April 12, 2020, extended, pursuant to EI 64, the ban on social gatherings including religious and political activities by additional two weeks. i.e. from April 12 to April 26, 2020, as part of measures to stop the spread of the deadly Coronavirus in the country.”

But a memo circulating widely on social media stated otherwise, prompting a swift response from the leadership of the party.

Below is the full statement:

NPP HAS NOT ISSUED ANY MEMO REGARDING THE PARTY’S 2020 PARLIAMENTARY AND PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES

The attention of the NPP has been drawn to a supposed leaked internal memo purportedly coming from the National Steering Committee of the party announcing a new date for the party’s 2020 parliamentary and presidential primaries.

The party wishes to state unequivocally that it has NOT issued any such statement/memo and there has not been any emergency National Steering Committee meeting on April 20, 2020, as claimed in the said fake statement/memo.

Indeed, the last National Steering Committee meeting of the party was held on April 14, 2020, at which meeting, the party decided to suspend its primaries till further notice in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions imposed by the President pursuant to EI 64.

The party has, till date, not met at any level, to review this position following the President’s decision to lift the partial lockdown imposed on some major cities in the country. And, as the party has always done, if any such decision is taken, same will be communicated to the general public through our official platforms including the party’s website: (newpatrioticparty.org)

It is pretty obvious that this fake memo was authored by some political mischief makers to create disaffection for the party and the President, whose popularity has soared significantly across the globe, having demonstrated great leadership in his handling of the COVID-19 situation in Ghana.

Finally, the NPP wishes to state for the avoidance of doubt that until otherwise communicated, the party’s 2020 parliamentary and presidential primaries remain suspended, and the memo being circulated on social media is FAKE and should accordingly be treated with all the disdain that it deserves.

Thank you.

JOHN BOADU

GENERAL SECRETARY