E/R: NPP Clears 81 Out of 85 Aspirants To Contest The Parliamentary Primaries.

Ninety-two persons declared their desire to run for parliamentary seats in the Eastern Region as of December 25, 2023, the deadline for nominations.

Of the ninety-two (92), eighty-five (85) formally submitted their nominations, positioning themselves to take on the incumbents in twenty-two seats.

The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Eastern Regional Vetting Committee has successfully vetted and cleared 81 out of 85 aspirants to contest the upcoming parliamentary primaries in constituencies with sitting Members of Parliament (MPs).

Three others, including one aspirant for Oda and the DCE for Akuapem South, have been put on hold pending further deliberations, while one female aspirant for New Juaben South was disqualified.

After three days of vetting, Hon. Jeff Konadu Addo, the Eastern Regional Chairman of the party, announced that the Committee had been able to vet candidates from 22 constituencies.

According to Mr. Jeff Konadu, of all the candidates who were vetted, only one was unable to proceed through the procedure due to illness.

He told the media that the vetting was very successful and commended the constituency and the regional executives for their yeoman’s work.

“All the aspirants who have offered to represent the party demonstrated knowledge of governance and parliamentary business, which we are highly satisfied with,” he added.

 

Eastern Regional NPP Primaries

The vetting saw incumbent Members of Parliament, ministers of state, and hundreds of party supporters converging at the Residency, amidst singing and dancing to cheer their preferred aspirants.

Ten women, including two incumbents Mrs. Abena Osei Asare, MP for Atiwa East and deputy finance minister, and Mrs. Gifty Twum-Ampofo, MP for Abuakwa North and deputy education minister, were among 75 men who are billed to contest in 24 constituencies in the region.

All 24 incumbent NPP MPs in the region are facing stiff contests in the upcoming primaries, with the exception of Mr. Bryan Acheampong, MP for Abetifi and Agriculture Minister, and Mr. Frederick Obeng Adom, MP for Upper-West Akyem, who are going unopposed.

Mr. Sammy Awuku, NLA boss, is also contesting the Akuapem North seat unopposed due to the fact that the incumbent MP, Nana Dokua Asiamah-Adjei, has switched camp to contest as the parliamentary candidate for Okaikwei North in Greater Accra.

Mr. Kwadwo Oppong Nkrumah, MP for Ofoase and Information minister, Mr. O.B Amoah, MP for Aburi and Minister of State, and Mr. Frank Annor-Dompreh, MP for Nsawam and majority chief whip, are all being contested in the bid to secure the parliamentary candidature for 2024.

Meanwhile, some veterans of the party in Parliament, including Mr. Dan Kwaku Botwe, Okere and Local Government minister, Mr. Samuel Atta-Akyea, Abuakwa South, Mr. Kwasi Amoako-Atta, Atiwa West and Roads Minister, and Nana Adjei Boateng New Juaben North and former Deputy Minister, have stepped down from the 2024 contest.

The party has fixed January 27, 2024, to conduct the final leg of its internal election to elect its parliamentary candidates.

 

Matter of the Akyem Oda Constituency Primaries

In the Akyem Oda constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), political tensions are on the rise as Dennis Obeng Agyei (Densa), the sole contender for Member of Parliament Alexander Akwasi Acquah, faces possible disqualification.

The 34-year-old candidate is accused of using offensive language against the incumbent MP, despite having issued an apology in the past.

During the vetting process, a petition was submitted against Dennis Agyei, prompting the vetting committee to refer the matter to the constituency disciplinary committee.

The committee is expected to make a decision within a week, intensifying concerns among Agyei’s supporters.

In a display of frustration, supporters of Dennis Obeng Agyei staged a protest, expressing dissatisfaction with the vetting committee’s decision to consider the petition.

They issued a stern warning, asserting that any move to disqualify Agyei would have disastrous consequences for the party.

Agyei, addressing the media, reiterated his previous apology and expressed surprise at the possibility of being disqualified based on the past incident. He emphasized the yearning for change among the youth of Akyem Oda, advocating for development and transformation in the constituency.

On the other side, incumbent MP Alexander Akwasi Acquah remained focused on continuing developmental projects for the constituency.

Despite the petition against his contender, Acquah urged the disciplinary committee to let the law take its course if Agyei is found guilty.

 

Matter of the New Juaben South Constituency Primaries

In a parallel development in New Juaben South, Member of Parliament Michael Okyere Baafi is poised to contest unopposed after the disqualification of his sole contender, Yaa Ansa Safori.

The former constituency women’s organizer faced allegations of falsifying a polling station executive’s signature for endorsement, a charge she flatly denies.

 

Matter of the  Akuapem South Constituency Primaries

Meanwhile, in the Akuapem South constituency, MP Osei Bonsu Amoah is actively pushing for the disqualification of the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE).

OB Amoah cites party regulations that require MMDCEs interested in parliamentary contests to resign from their positions two years before the nomination period, adding another layer of political intrigue to the unfolding narrative in the region.

The Akuapem South parliamentary primaries are being contested by Kwame Ofori-Gyau, Eric Samuel Annor-Mensah, and Frank Aidoo, the Municipal Chief Executive, and Eric Yeboah Apeadu, a former aide and research assistant to O.B Amoah

 

Matter of the New Juaben South  Constituency Primaries

An aspiring NPP Parliamentary candidate for the New Juaben South constituency in the Eastern Region has been cited for impersonation and forgery in the party’s ongoing vetting process.

Yaa Ansah Safori who was contesting the incumbent member of Parliament, Hon. Michael Okyere Baafi allegedly presented fictitious documents to the party’s vetting Committee.

This came to light during the party’s vetting of 85 Parliamentary aspirants at Koforidua Residency.

Madam Yaa Ansah Safori was disqualified on evidence of forgery and impersonation based on a petition received by the vetting committee from a complainant on Thursday for allegedly falsifying a polling station executive’s signature for endorsement.

To this end, the Eastern Regional Vetting Committee has declared the Member of Parliament for New Juaben South who doubles as a deputy minister in charge of Industries, Michael Okyere Baafi, to go unopposed following the disqualification of his sole contender, Yaa Ansa Safori.

Rumours have it that Madam Yaa Ansah Safori will be reported on criminality to the Ghana Police Service for further investigations.

Addressing the media after vetting on Thursday, the Eastern regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Mr. Jeff Kunadu Addo has said individuals who are desiring to occupy the office as a member of Parliament must demonstrate that they are beyond reproach.

Mr. Jeff Kunadu Addo who confirmed the situation said, that forging signatures to hoodwink the members of the vetting Committee of the Party to accept one’s forms is a crime and that is worrying.

Meanwhile, aspirants and their followers have been cautioned against campaigns of political ‘blackmail’ in their bid to lead their constituencies in the 2024 elections.

 

 

 

 

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