Former Suame Legislator and Majority Leader, Osei-Kyei Mensah Bonsu, is advocating for an amendment to Clause 2 of Article 12 of the Party’s Constitution.
He proposes that primaries in orphan constituencies—areas without an incumbent Member of Parliament—should be conducted no less than 24 months prior to national elections.
“The selection of parliamentary candidates in constituencies where the Party lacks an incumbent MP shall occur no later than 24 months before the General elections, with the advertisement for this process lasting a minimum of four weeks in each constituency,” he stated.
Osei-Kyei Mensah Bonsu also suggested that in constituencies with an incumbent MP, the selection of the parliamentary candidate should be finalized 15 months before the General elections.
He also pointed out that the quarterly assessment of the Parliamentary Party, which will account for 50% of the evaluation, alongside the Constituency Party’s assessment, which will also account for 50%, will be the primary basis for the re-selection of the incumbent MP as the Party’s candidate.
“If the incumbent secures an accumulated average of over 60%, they will be confirmed as the Party’s candidate, provided they have not engaged in any actions that could tarnish the Party’s image,” he added.
He further noted that if the candidate scores below 60% on the cumulative average, primaries will be held to select a new parliamentary candidate.
“The incumbent MP, unless disqualified under any provision of the Constitution of Ghana, the Party’s Constitution, or any other applicable law, will be eligible to contest if they choose to do so,” he wrote in a 30-page proposal.
