PNC To Elect Flagbearer For Election 2012 Early February

The People's National Convention (PNC), on Monday affirmed February 3 to 5 as the period for its extra-ordinary National Delegates Congress, to elect a flagbearer for Election 2012. The congress would also elect national leaders for the next four years, Mr Bernard Anbataayela Mornah, PNC General Secretary, told the Ghana News Agency, in an interview in Accra. He said about 1,400 delegates made up of five constituency executive members, aspiring parliamentary candidates, seating Members of Parliament, regional executives, 17 national leaders and national executive committee. Other delegates include a representative each from the tertiary institutions branches of the party, the youth and women�s wing. Mr Mornah said the Electoral Commission (EC) had been duly informed of the impending congress, whilst the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Command would be in charge of the security arrangements. He said the congress would discuss the General Secretary and National Chairman�s reports, adopt reports and pass resolutions as well as review the party�s constitution to meet current political trend. Mr Mornah said the party had also deposited the photo album of delegates to the EC. On possible merger talks between PNC and the Convention People�s Party (CPP), Mr Mornah noted that the two parties had advanced in their dealings, but the congress would take a final decision on the issue. He said: �Whoever emerges as a flagbearer will succumb to the decision of the National Delegates Congress�. Mr Mornah noted that personality ego was the main challenge keeping the two parties from joining forces together, �Now all those personalities are out, the current leadership of the CPP have demonstrated their commitment towards unity�. He said the PNC�s proposal for the merger was that - the name CPP should be maintained but the PNC�s symbol of Coconut should replace the Cockerel in the middle of the flag. Mr Mornah said these conditions were non-negotiable and that �We must give and take in a merger talk, there should not be a winner or loser�. Mr Ivor Kobina Greenstreets, CPP General Secretary, told the GNA that the party had re-scheduled the date for filling of nomination forms for Presidential aspirants due to the dynamic development within the Nkrumahist front for a common agenda for Election 2012. He explained that the party and the PNC had proactively advanced in negotiations for fielding parliamentary and presidential candidates for Election 2012. Mr Greenstreets said in view of the current realities on the Nkrumahist front, the National leadership considered it prudent to suspend the processes leading the CPP�s Flag bearership contest to pave the way for a common candidate. The CPP on January 4, opened nominations for its flag bearer for the 2012 presidential election, closing on Friday January 27 but it has been postponed indefinitely. Two leading members of the CPP, Mr Bright O. Akwetey and Dr Foster Abu Sakara have picked nomination forms to contest for the slot.