NPP suspends parliamentary primaries over coronavirus fears

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has suspended its parliamentary primaries amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The primaries was scheduled for April 25, 2020. It was to elect parliamentary candidates in constituencies where the party has sitting Members of Parliament ahead of the 2020 General Elections.

The party, however, decided to suspend the primaries after a National Steering Committee meeting held on Tuesday.

The National Steering Committee, by reason of the party’s constitution, is the body responsible for overseeing the daily management of the party, and has been mandated to act on behalf of the party on urgent matters.

The decision to suspend the primaries, they believe, is in line with the President’s ban on social gatherings as part of national efforts towards the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The party, in a statement signed by its General Secretary John Boadu, explained that “In the light of this development, the party is unable to hold the primaries as planned, and has accordingly postponed same till further notice. The party regrets all inconveniences that this may occasion, and hopes to hold this crucial exercise, sooner than later.”

It would be recalled that President Akufo-Addo on April 12, 2020, extended the ban on social gathering, including religious and political activities for another two weeks.

The two weeks took effect from April 12 to April 26, 2020.

Ghana’s COVID-19 cases, as of April 13, 2020, 11:00pm stood at 636.

The breakdown of the 636 positive cases are as follows: 17 have been treated, reverted to negative on repeat tests and discharged; 605 cases have been categorised as mild disease and are on treatment; two are categorised as moderate to severe cases, none in critical state currently and eight have died.

Regions that have reported cases are Greater Accra, Ashanti, Central, Eastern, Western, Volta, Northern, North East, Upper East, and Upper West regions.