Effah-Dartey Dropped From NPP Race

Posted by Nicholas on 2007/12/1 1:49:23 (140 reads)

The presidential aspirations of Capt. (Rtd) John Kwame Nkrabea Effah-Dartey, MP for Berekum, were yesterday dashed, following his disqualification by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) committee that vetted him and 17 other aspirants.

The captain, who was the last aspirant to file his nomination, could not go through the mill, following his involvement in a mutiny over a quarter of a century ago.

This was announced by the NPP National Chairman, Mr. Peter Mac Manu at a short press briefing in Accra yesterday.

According to the chairman, Effah-Dartey was on 21st May, 1981 convicted in a matter relating to the security of the state and was subsequently imprisoned.

This, he noted, goes against Articles 62, Clause 2 (C) Act 5 of the 1992 Fourth Republican Constitution.

The Berekum MP was in prison for 23 months after he was arrested and tried by a court martial for mutiny and misdemeanor, until he was pardoned by the then Head of State, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings.

“Consequently, the committee is unable to declare Captain Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey qualified,” Mac Manu said.

According to the party chairman, Effah-Dartey has 48 hours upon receipt of the vetting committee’s verdict, to appeal against the decision, following which the National Executive Council of the party would get back to him within seven days.

After that, the disqualified aspirant still has the option of going to a court of law if he so wishes.

“As a Ghanaian, he can go to court if he is not pleased, but he must first exhaust all the party’s internal mechanisms,” Mr Mac-Manu stressed.

When asked if part or all of his filing fee of ¢250 million would be returned to him, the chairman said he was not in a position to tell immediately.

Nineteen people picked forms to run the ruling party’s flagbearership race when nominations opened on 22nd September, 2007.

A Vetting Committee was put in place three days later and 18 of the aspirants had filed by the time nominations closed on 22 November.

Interestingly, all the other 17 aspirants vetted alongside the captain had a clean bill of health.

Those cleared by the committee are Alan John Kyerematen, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, Boakye Kyeremanteng Agyarko, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Alhaji Aliu Mahama and Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey.

The rest are Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Prof. Mike Oquaye, Dr. Arthur Kwabena Kennedy, Daniel Kwaku Botwe, Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Felix Owusu-Adjapong and Dr. Barfuor Adjei-Barwuah.

The only person who could not return his form was John Kwame Kodua, who said he did not file because he did not get the green light from God.

Like Kodua, Effah-Dartey said it was only God who made presidents, and would therefore rely on him for guidance.
The Vetting Committee was under the chairmanship of Prof. Adjei Bekoe.

By Bennett Akuaku