NDC Primaries: Address Dr Kwabena Duffuor’s concerns to avoid voilence – NPP to NDC

The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has urged the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to ensure a peaceful environment during the party's upcoming presidential and parliamentary primaries slated for May 13, 2023, despite the interlocutory injunction filed against the party by Dr Kwabena Duffuor, a flagbearer hopeful of the NDC.

Dr Kwabena Duffuor filed an interlocutory injunction on May 9, barring the NDC and the Electoral Commission (EC) from holding the primaries unless they produce a complete photo album register.

In an interview with Citi News, the General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Kodua Frimpong, stated that the NDC must ensure credible and successful primaries without any violence.

“We want successful primaries, we don't want any tension, hooliganism or any form of activities the constitution frowns on. At the end of the day, we want them to have credible primaries,” Frimpong stated.

Despite the court injunction, the NDC is hopeful that the primaries will proceed as planned.

However, the EC has suspended its supervision of the election following the injunction filed by Dr. Duffuor.

The NDC's internal exercise is in limbo as the party has yet to produce a complete photo album register. The Chairperson of the EC, Jean Mensa, announced that “in order that we are not cited for contempt, the Commission has taken the decision not to supervise the conduct of the Presidential and Parliamentary elections until after the determination of the case by the court.”

The NDC and the EC were scheduled to have a meeting to address outstanding issues ahead of Saturday's primaries but it was cancelled by the EC.

In a statement, the NDC assured its members that steps are being taken to ensure that the event takes place as scheduled.

“The party is taking all legitimate and legal steps to pave the way for the presidential and parliamentary primaries on Saturday, May 13. The party is therefore confident that this temporary challenge will be quickly overcome to pave the way for the holding of the primaries on schedule,” the statement read.