Twenty aspirants have successfully passed the vetting process to contest six executive positions in the upcoming Ashanti Regional elections of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The exercise was conducted on Monday at the Hasta Hotel in Kumasi by the party’s regional vetting committee as preparations continue for the election of a new regional executive leadership.
The candidates will contest for several key positions, with some races expected to be highly competitive.
The positions of First Vice Chairman, Youth Organiser and Nasara Coordinator have each attracted four candidates, making them the most hotly contested portfolios in the first phase of the vetting exercise.
Three aspirants have been cleared to contest the positions of Second Vice Chairman and Treasurer, while the Communication Officer race will be decided by just two candidates in a straight contest.
The regional executive elections are considered an important exercise for the NPP as the party reorganises its structures and strengthens its leadership in one of its strongest political strongholds ahead of future electoral activities.
The vetting exercise is expected to continue today, when the committee screens the remaining 15 aspirants seeking election to the final five executive positions.
Those positions include Regional Chairman, Regional Secretary, Deputy Regional Secretary, Regional Organiser and Regional Women’s Organiser.
Chairperson of the Vetting Committee, Rita Talata Asobayire, confirmed that the first day’s exercise was conducted successfully and without major challenges.
She expressed confidence that the committee would complete the remaining vetting process as scheduled.
Several aspirants who were cleared by the committee also spoke to the media after the exercise. Among them were Hajia Zainab Sallaw, who is contesting for the Second Vice Chairperson position, as well as Amofa Jantuah and Akwasi Nti, both of whom are seeking election as First Vice Chairman.
