The cracks within the Agona East Constituency branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) seem not to have ended as they were openly displayed during the constituency election held at the National Vocational Training Institute at Agona Swedru in the Central Region last Saturday.
Though the election was an internal contest it turned out to be a competition between candidates supposedly aligned to the District Chief Executive, Mr Martin Luther Obeng, and those in support of the Member of Parliament for the area, Mrs Queenstar Maame Pokuah Sawyerr.
Other candidates who claimed to be neutral also contested the elections in anticipation that the delegates would massively vote for them, since they did not belong to any of the camps.
It is an open secret in the politics of the constituency that there is a rift between the DCE and the MP which resulted in what was seen to be a contest between the two camps.
The feud between the two made them openly support their preferred candidates who contested the 15 executive positions.
Controversy before voting
There was a misunderstanding between both camps concerning the eligibility of some delegates from some polling stations to vote in the election.
They argued that the delegates from the said polling stations in Agona Duakwa and Nsaba were not eligible to vote, since they claimed that such delegates were not properly elected during the polling station elections to enable them to take part in the voting.
The situation delayed the voting process for a while and after deliberations among the party hierarchy, the issue was resolved.
All those delegates from the disputed polling stations were barred from voting, which paved the way for voting to begin.
At the end of voting
At the end of the voting process, all the positions contested were won by candidates who were in the camp of Mrs Pokuah Sawyerr, the MP for the area.
For the chairmanship, Alhaji Jabiru Ibrahim polled 283 votes to defeat Mr Eric Turkson who only managed 93 votes.
Mr Paul Goldwater Agyakwa secured 295 votes to win the constituency Vice-Chairman against Shaibu Yusif who had 86 votes.
The incumbent Secretary, Mr Samuel Oscar Mensah, maintained his position with 228 votes against Ebenezer Baidoo and Miss Grace Dylis Ababio who polled 67 and 84 votes, respectively.
Mr James Kwame Agbetawokpor had 241 votes to emerge the Deputy Secretary against Mordecai Duffu Yankson who had 106 votes and Daniel Anorkye- Essel who secured 33 votes.
The incumbent Organiser, Mr Francis Baidoo, polled 253 votes to beat John K Mensah who secured 91 votes and Mohammed Awal Waloona who had 35 votes.
For the Deputy Organiser position, Mr Isaac Amoquandoh won with 246 votes against Martin Amokwah who had 131 votes.
The Propaganda Secretary position was also won by Mr Daniel Nyarkoh with 169 votes against Justice Quarm and Fiifi Ansah Todzro who secured 106 and 99 votes.
Mr Awudu Yamba secured 237 votes to become the new Deputy Propaganda Secretary beating Emmanuel Kojo Amoakwa who had 135 votes.
Mr John Kumah Agbobli secured 76 votes to beat the incumbent Youth Organiser, Mr Bashiru Gambo, who managed only 20 votes.
For the Deputy Youth Organiser position, Mr Eric Amoako had 46 votes to beat Farouk Iddrisu and Abdul Hamid Imam Ahmed with 24 and 25 votes, respectively.
Chairman speaks
Mary Ama Otwey won the Women�s Organiser position with 65 votes against Adiza Adam who had 28 votes. Dina Yankson was elected the Deputy Women�s Organiser with 60 votes against two other candidates.
Mr Ibrahim Salisu had 288 votes to win the Treasurer position, while Seth Seiti was also elected Deputy Treasurer.
Alhaji Jabiru Ibrahim, the newly elected Constituency Chairman, called on members of the party to bury their differences, put the outcome of the election behind them and work in unity towards strengthening the party in the constituency.
MP for the area
Mrs Pokuah Sawyerr, in an earlier address, urged the delegates to vote for people who were capable of working tirelessly to retain the party in power in 2016.
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