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The parliamentary primaries of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in four constituencies of the Western Region have been suspended.

The affected constituencies are Akontombra, Juaboso, Bia East and Bia West, all located in the northern sector of the region.

Regional secretary of the party, Charles Bissiu confirmed the decision of the party in an interview.

According to him, the national executives of the party unanimously took the decision upon consultation with regional and constituency executives of the party.

At the heart of the decision, the party scribe explained, is the strategies being adopted for the 2016 general elections.

"The suspension of the primaries in the four constituencies is actually part of internal strategies. We need to employ the right strategies in order to win more seats," he said.

The party currently holds only six seats out of 28 available seats in the region. 

All the major seats, particularly those in the mining areas of the region, hitherto the preserve of the party, have been snatched by the NDC.

Except the Tarkwa Nsuaem Constituency, which is even under threat, all the seats occupied by the party from 2000 to 2004 were reverted to the NDC in the 2008 and 2012 general elections.  

Among reasons that were cited as having caused the defeat of the party in these constituencies  in the last two general elections were internal wrangling, greed (corruption), and disloyalty by aggrieved members. 

These constituencies include Prestea Huni-valley (grabbed in 2008) by NDC;   Ellembelle, 2008; Amenfi East, 2012; Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira, 2012; Aowin, 2008; Shama, 2008; and Ahanta West, 2012.

Currently, the Regional Secretary said the party would conduct the primaries in only 22 constituencies, out of 28 in the region, due to new strategies being adopted to wrestle the lost seats.

Regarding the remaining six constituencies, Bissiu said the leadership would announce the date for their primaries in due course.

Details of the strategies being employed by the party, he noted, cannot be made public due to circumstances beyond his control.