Delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as well as the party executives in the various constituencies go to polls today to elect parliamentary candidates for the 2016 elections.
The primaries, billed to begin at 8am this morning, would see some 689 aspirants slugging it out for 263 parliamentary positions in readiness for the crucial 2016 general elections.
Voting in 29 constituencies has been put on hold for various reasons.
Date for the elections in the constituencies concerned would be announced later after the substantive issues are resolved, a statement by party General Secretary Kwabena Agyepong indicated.
The contest promises to be more interesting and keener in some constituencies than others in view of the enthusiasm that it has generated since the NPP opened nominations.
This is also due to some of the names and the personalities involved in the race.
Ashanti Region
Key among constituencies that have generated interest in the NPP’s stronghold is Suame, where incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) and Minority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu is facing stiff opposition from businessman and strong party man, Kwadwo Boateng Genfi and two others – Richard Boadi Soadwa and John Darko.
Genfi seems to have made serious inroads in the constituency from the time he announced his intention to contest for the position; he is seen as a major threat to the Minority Leader. Minority MPs who are going unopposed are said to have stormed the constituency to canvass for support for him.
Even though there have been attempts by some of his own colleagues and party gurus to save Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu from falling, in view of his strategic position in the party and Parliament, some have already predicted that he would go down by the close of polls today.
In the Asokwa constituency, former MP for the area, vociferous Maxwell Kofi Jumah, is staging a comeback to reclaim the seat from incumbent Patricia Appiagyei, who seems to be struggling to save herself from the likely defeat, which many say is imminent.
Another place to watch in the Ashanti Region is the Kwadaso constituency where the incumbent MP, Dr Afriyie Owusu Akoto, is facing stiff competition from five other aspirants including the controversial Hilda Addo who has a penchant for throwing invectives at the party’s flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo.
The rest include Dr Charles Dwamena, popularly known as Dr China, Dr Samiu Kwadjo Nuamah, Vincent Manu and Dr Kingsley Nyarko.
Nhyiaeso constituency is also one of the hottest spots in the region, with incumbent MP Dr Richard Anane’s stay in Parliament being threatened by people including his protégés like Stephen Amoah, popularly known as Sticka, who has been soldiering for the party for several years.
The rest include former Regional Organiser Kennedy Kankam, Kwaku Appiah-Menka and Awa Abdul Aziz, while in the Effiduase Asokore constituency, incumbent Frank Boakye Agyen is struggling to retain his seat against popular chairman of the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie and three others – Yaw Osei Amoako, Alex Kwadwo Boateng, a teacher at GIJ and Owusu Adjabeng.
The race is seen as a two-man contest between Agyen and Dr Afriyie, who seems to have made significant inroads in the constituency with time.
Brong-Ahafo
In the Brong-Ahafo Region, Kwaku Agyenim Boateng is being chased by former MP for the area, Captain Nkrabea Effah-Dartey and two others – Richard Asante Yeboah and Clement Amofa Boakye.
Effah Dartey’s comeback is considered a serious threat to the chances of the incumbent.
Professor Christopher Ameyaw Ekumfi and six others would also battle it out in the Techiman North constituency – a seat currently occupied by NDC’s Alex Kyeremeh.
Prof Ameyaw-Ekumfi is contesting with Mbakibe Okrah Smith, Peter Mensah, Emmanuel Owusu, Oti Martin Gyarko, Bright Boakye Yiadom and Adu Nimo Williams.
In the Wenchi constituency, incumbent Professor Gyan Baffour is also facing a strong competition from NPP failed national organiser Alhaji Moctar Musah Bamba, Dr Kwesi Adai Donkor and Kofi Anokye Boateng.
Central Region
With the inclusion of communications expert Nenyi George Andah in the race, the contest in the Ewutu Senya West constituency also promises to be interesting.
Andah, however, comes up for a fierce competition from five others – Moses Nkansah, Emmanuel Egyiri Esibu, Emmanuel Abbiw Mensah, Joseph Aidoo and Patrick Kwabena Amoako, all of who want to snatch the seat from incumbent NDC MP and Foreign Affairs Minister Hannah Tetteh.
Cynthia Morrison, a former regional women organiser, is also laying claim for the Agona West seat in Swedru.
For Mavis Hawa Koomson, the incumbent MP, the race for Awutu Senya East, Kasoa, is tough with a certain Abdallah Bonsu on her trail.
Eastern Region
Some constituencies in the Eastern Region also have a lot in stock for the day, considering the personalities involved.
In the case of Abetifi where incumbent MP Peter Wiafe Pepera is not contesting, there is going to be a hot contest between Bryan Acheampong, a former chief of staff, and the other aspirants.
Even though Bryan has come up strongly in the contest with Alberta Akoto, popularly known as Maame Afua Akoto – a deputy director of communications of the NPP – the names of Nicholas Asiedu Nyarko and Daniel Kwasi Amoafo have also come up as strong contenders, making the race a tight one.
Samuel Atta Akyea is also not having it easy in the Abuakwa South constituency where he is being challenged by two strong characters – Kingsley Agyemang and Kwame Boateng Acheampong, lawyer for Okyeman Council.
The two seem to be giving the incumbent a hell of a time in his bid to retain the seat. A failed candidate for the national treasurer position of the NPP, Philomena Serwaa Akoto, and two other women – Mercy Bampoe Addo, former deputy minister at the office of the president during the Kufuor regime and Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah Adjei – are shaking the bones of incumbent MP for Akropong, William Ofori Boafo, in a bid to unseat him.
Another place to watch is the Lower West Akyim constituency where incumbent Gifty Klenam is fighting to redeem her position, coming into the race with three other contestants – Kwadwo Odame Antwi, Stephen Asamoah Duah and Eyiah Kyei Baffour.
So is New Juaben South where the sitting MP, Dr Mark Asibey Yeboah, is not having it easy with the inclusion of Michael Okyere Baafi in the contest.
Even though it looks like a straight fight between the two, Steve Nana Amponsah and John Oduro are also up for the battle, with many tipping Okyere Baafi as likely to unseat the incumbent.
Another contest that also promises to be interesting is the Ofoase Ayirebi constituency one where young but celebrated broadcaster Kojo Oppong Nkrumah is staking a claim for the seat as the incumbent David Oppon-Kusi is not seeking re-election.
Kojo is in the race with John Obiri Yeboah and Bright Asamoah Acquah, with Kojo seen as the likely choice, even though Obiri Yeboah, a freight forwarder, is showing a strong face.
Greater Accra
In the national capital, Accra, the contest is keen among aspirants in a number of constituencies, with some incumbents almost clutching on straws for survival.
One of the places to watch would be the Adenta constituency where former NPP deputy communications director, Yaw Buabeng Asamoah, is battling it out with former MP for Akan and former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Rashid Bawa, as well as estate developer Morgan Adxitia of Morgan Properties fame.
In the Ablekuma South constituency where incumbent NDC MP Fritz Baffour would not seek re-election and speculation is rife that Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) for Accra, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, is likely to show a face, Lawyer Jerry Ahmed Shaib comes up in a fight against Bernard Brown and Samuel Sarbah Lartey, while Lawyer Muniru Mohammed Kassim is also putting up a spirited fight to become the NPP parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso East (Nima) and surrounding areas.
He would slug it out with three others – Peter Mireku, Mohammed Baba Alhassan and one Zak Rahman; while in the Madina constituency, former MP for Salaga, Boniface Abubakar Saddique, would get to do battle with Francis Ayensu, Jamal Mustapha, Samuel Quansah, Eric Yeboah and Alexander Anim over who gets to lead the party in the constituency for the next general elections. The odds are in favour of Boniface.
The Odododiodioo constituency primaries would equally be interesting, with former MP for the area, Reginald Niibi Ayibonte, staging a strong comeback.
He is, however, being hotly challenged by Edward Bannerman, and Ahmed Tackie, while senior journalist and editor-in-chief of the Daily Searchlight newspaper, Kenneth Agyei Kuranchie, also sticks out his neck for the Okaikoi North seat.
He faces former MP for Nkawkaw, Seth Adjei Baah, Fuseini Issah and Amorkor Boateng Amponsem.
At Ayawaso Central, it is a straight fight between incumbent Henry Quartey and two others, with Henry expected to make mincemeat of his opponents.
By close of day today, the contestants would know their fate after results of the elections are announced and winners declared anytime after 3pm.
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