15 NDC MPs booted out

graphic.com.gh Politics Nov - 23 - 2015 , 11:03

It has been described as the shocker of the presidential and parliamentary primaries of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC). That is the sheer bravado displayed by Sam George Nartey (aka Sam George), a presidential staffer, in standing up against a five-time Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prampram and colossus of the Fourth Republic, Mr E.T. Mensah, which has become the talk of the town.

With the results declared from the 22 polling stations in the constituency Mr Nartey had 4,910 as against 2,861 by Mr Mensah, popularly known as ‘Ningo-Prampram Mugabe.’

Earlier confusion in the Ningo-Prampram Constituency led to the postponement of the polls from Saturday to yesterday.

Mr Nartey had walked to the police station claiming that he had been attacked by supporters of Mr Mensah. A supporter of Mr Mensah had also reported that Mr Nartey had personally assaulted him.

It was reported that two supporters of Mr Nartey had also been kidnapped.

Yesterday, before the announcement of results, Mr Nartey was reported to have boldly walked to some military personnel deployed to the area and asked them to leave there.

The Tema Regional Police Commander, DCOP Beatrice Vib-Sazire, threatened to withdraw her men from the area if the military personnel were not recalled.

The show of bravado by Nartey, makes earlier ‘tsunamis’ in 14 other constituencies pale into insignificance.

Casualties

In the Greater Accra Region, four incumbent MPs failed to convince their constituents and were booted out.

The Minister of Youth and Sports and MP for Ayawaso North, Dr Mustapha Ahmed, lost to Yussif Jajah, while a former Minister of Employment and Labour Relations and MP for Klottey Korle, Nii Armah Ashietey, was defeated by Dr Zanetor Agyeman Rawlings.

Dr Ahmed polled 1,101 votes, while Alhaji Yusuf Jajah polled 1,636, with Mr Abdul Jalil getting 199; Ali Dauda, 338, and Alhaji Amin Lamptey, 56.

Nii Ashietey polled 1,746 votes to succumb to Dr Rawlings, who got 2,748, with Nii John Coleman trailing with only 152 votes.

Adenta was not spared the political tsunami as the incumbent MP, Mr Emmanuel Ashie Moore, polled 1,130, to lose to his main rival, Mohammed Ramadan, who had 2,387 votes.

A former Municipal Chief Executive, Ms Kakra Vanlare, came third with 368 votes, while Mallam Ali Yusif Issah came fourth with 97 votes.

In Ayawaso East Constituency, the incumbent MP Alhaji Naser Toure Mahama polled 2,332 votes to get the nod of the delegates to seek re-election to Parliament after warding off competition from two other contestants.

In Krowor, Eliezer Borklletey carried the day with 2,578 votes to beat his main contender, Daniel Alabi.

In the same region, the Deputy Majority Leader and MP for Ashaiman, Mr Alfred Agbesi, was convincingly beaten by Mr Ernest Norgbey, a young officer of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).

Mr Agbesi, who was seeking a fourth term bid for Parliament, could only manage 1,745 votes, with Norgbey polling a whopping 5,171 votes.

In Ablekuma South, the Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, had 3,298 votes to beat his main contender, Nii Amo Doodo, who had 1,259.

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, secured his ticket to seek a fourth term bid for Parliament when he won the primary in Kpone-Katamanso.

Mr Afotey-Agbo, alias 'Lion', polled 3,176, while his challenger, Mr Joseph Akuetey-Tetteh, polled 1,519 votes. 52 ballots were rejected

In Tema Central, the sole candidate, Ms Ebi Bright, was acclaimed, while President Mahama polled 1,462 'Yes' votes, with two people voting 'No' and 44 ballots being rejected.

A former Metropolitan Chief Executive for Tema, Mr Robert Kempes Papa Nii Ofosuhene, who lost his bid for Parliament in 2012 by just three votes in the last general election, emerged the winner in Tema East.

Mr Ofosuware polled 2,731 votes, as against 1,235 garnered by his closest contender, Micheal Abbey.

In Tema West, Lawyer James Enu, who contested on the tag line, ‘Home boy', beat his challenger, Bill Boglo-Hedo, in the primaries.

Mr Enu polled 1,522 votes, representing 63.63 per cent, as against 870 obtained by Boglo-Hedo.

The NDC has 19 MPs in the Greater Accra Region.

Three of them — Mr Fritz Frederick Baffour (Ablekuma South), Dr Oakley Quaye-Kumah (Krowor) and Mr Theophilus Tetteh Chaie (Ablekuma Centra) — did not seek re-election.

Volta Region

Four incumbent MPs were shown the exit in the Volta Region, the NDC’s ‘World Bank’. The number of female candidates, however, increased from four to five.

The four MPs who lost their bids are Mr Joe Kwashi Gidisu, Central Tongu; Mr George Loh, North Dayi; Mr Simon Edem Asimah, South Dayi, and Mr Emmanuel Bandua, Biakoye.

Mr Gidisu, who was seeking a fifth term, lost to Mr Alex Gabby Hortordze, while Mr Loh could not have a second chance to contest on the NDC’s ticket in 2016 because Ms Jocelyn Tetteh, a debutante, emerged the winner, with Mr Asimah’s dream of going to Parliament for the fourth time being truncated by Mr Rockson N. Dafeamekpor.

Mr Bandua, who was seeking a fourth term in Parliament, lost to Mr Nyapon Aboagye.

Upper East

In the Upper East Region, three sitting MPs out of the 12 seeking re-election lost their bid to contest the 2016 parliamentary election.

They are Mr Emmanuel Akolbire Opam Brown, Bolgatanga Central; Mr Noah Ben Azure, Binduri, and Mr Dominic Azimbe, Garu.

In Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo, a new face, dislodged Mr Brown by securing 4,290 votes, as against 2,956 by the MP. Lawyer Abraham Amaliba polled 3,052 votes, while Mr George Gamson obtained 906 votes.

In Binduri, Robert Baba Kuganab-Lem, another new face, got 4,387 votes to defeat Mr Azure, who secured 2,735 votes, while Stephen Atubiga had 2,310.

In Garu, Mr Albert Akuka, the District Chief Executive, won with 3,927 votes, as against 2,566 by Mr Azimbe.

Among the incumbent MPs and political giants who sailed through are the MP for Bawku Central, Mr Mahama Ayariga; Mr Cletus Avoka, Zebilla; Mr James Agalga, Builsa North, and Mr Dominic Ayine, Bolgatanga East.

The MPs for Navrongo Central and Talensi, Mr Mark Woyongo and Mr B.T. Baba, respectively, went to the primaries unopposed.

Northern Region

In the Northern Region, three NDC bigwigs retained their slots, while two others lost.

The three who won are Mr Haruna Iddrissu, Minister of Employment and Labour Relations; Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, the Minister of Roads and Highways, and Alhaji A.B.A. Fuseini, the Deputy Northern Regional Minister, who are sitting MPs for Tamale South, Tamale Central and Sagnarigu, respectively.

Mr Iddrisu polled 12,353 votes, as against 1,962 obtained by his only challenger, Mr Mohammed Aliu, while Alhaji Inusah Fuseini secured 10,979 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Alhaji Ibrahim Seidu, who obtained 5,676 votes, with another aspirant, Alhasaan Adam, managing only 192 votes.

Alhaji Fuseini secured 6,072 votes to defeat two other contestants, Alhaji Abubakari Amin Adam and Hajia Hawa Boya Gariba, who obtained 4,126 and 3,372 votes, respectively.

A Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry and MP for Nanton, Mr Ibrahim Mohammed Murtala, also defeated his sole challenger, Dr Salifu Yakubu, with 4,272 votes against 1,405 obtained by Dr Yakubu.

Mr Thomas Kwesi Nasah, the MP for Gushegu, also retained his slot after defeating three other contestants.

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and MP for Mion, Dr Alhassan Ahmed Yakubu, lost to Dr Mu-Awia Zakaria, while the Deputy Minister of Energy, John Abdulai Jinapor, won the Yapei Kusawgu ticket from a sixth timer, Mr Amadu Seidu.

A Radio Gold morning show presenter, Alhassan Suhuyini, was declared winner in the primary in Tamale North. He had 3,433 votes, representing 44.69 per cent, while the incumbent MP, Abukari Sumani, obtained 1,069 votes, representing 13.92 per cent.

Upper West Region

In the Upper West, the Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, Dr Henry Daanaa Seidu, who is visually impaired, ousted the incumbent Ameen Salifu in Wa East. Dr Daanaa received 2,944 votes, as against 2,804 garnered by Mr Salifu.

The MP for Daboya/Mankarigu, Abudu Nelson, who had some time ago proffered hanging or stoning to death as the best punishment for women who engaged in adulterous acts, lost to Shaibu Mahama.

The Majority Leader in Parliament, Mr Alban Bagbin, overcame the first hurdle in his bid for a record seventh term in the legislature when he won in the hotbed of Nadowli-Kaleo.

Mr Bagbin polled 3,237 votes in what was practically a three-horse race, beating his closest challenger and university lecturer, Mr Roger Galee, and a Customs officer, Salifu Dumbah, who had 1,696 and 1,090 votes, respectively.

The Minister of Chieftaincyand Traditional Affairs, DrHenry Seidu Daanaa, was elected the parliamentary candidate of the NDC for the next year’s general election following his narrow victory over incumbent MP for Was East, Ameenu Salifu in Saturday’s primary.

Dr Daanaa received 2,944 as agaisnt the 2,604 votes garnered by Mr Salifu to become the party’s candidate for 2016 general elections.

A former Health Minister, Mr Yiele Chireh, was retained as the NDC's parliamentary candidate for Wa West when he polled 3,269 votes to beat his two opponents in yesterday's race.

In Nandom, Dr Richard Kuuire picked the parliamentary slot after polling 2,931 votes, as against the 2,405 garnered by the current District Chief Executive, Cuthbert Baba Kuupiel.

In Daffiama/Bussie/Issa, a medical doctor, Dr Sebastian Ngmenso Sandaari, received 2,657 votes to beat a former Deputy Regional Minister and one-time DCE for the area, Abu Kabiebata Kasangbata, who polled 2,214 votes.

A former Regional Minister, Bede Ziedeng, won the Lawra primary when he polled 2,747 votes, as against 2,731 obtained by the incumbent MP, Sampson Abu, while in Lambussie-Karni, the incumbent MP, Edward Kaale-Ewola Dery, polled 2,435 votes to beat Mercellinus Kandy Welber.

A former MP, Dr Francis Bawana Dakura, secured 4,832 votes to become the party's candidate for Jirapa, beating Lawyer Charles Lwanga Puozing and the immediate past DCE for the area, Nelly-Vivian Kuoko Banonghore, who polled 2,043 and 585, respectively.

In Sissala East, the incumbent MP, Alijata Sulemana Gbentie, secured 3,144 votes to win the primary, leaving the DCE for the area, Juasoglo Johnson Sobor (2,868 votes), Issah Mohammed Bataglia (2,330 votes), Jamila Ibrahim (359 votes) and Nuhu Liman (94 votes) trailing in that order.

Brong Ahafo Region

In Kintampo North in the Brong Ahafo Region, a former Deputy Minister of Communications, Ms Victoria Hamah's hope to go to Parliament was dashed.

She only managed to place fourth in a hotly contested primary won by Mr Justice Etu-Bonde with 1,854 votes.

The Kintampo North DCE, Mr Michael Justice Baffoe, who came second in the contest, polled 1,785 votes, while Iddrisu Kofi Badu came third with 1,501 votes.

Ms Hamah, who lost the 2012 parliamentary election to NPP's Ursula Owusu in Ablekuma West, managed to poll 1,153, beating only Abdul Rahama Yakubu, who secured only 421 votes.

In Kintampo South, Ms Felicia Adjei caused a stir when she defeated the DCE, Mr Kojo Nyame Datiakwa, with 3,883 to 2,413 votes.

Central Region

In the Central Region, the MP for Ekumfi, Abeiku Crentsil, was re-elected as the candidate for the 2016 election.

He polled 2,752 votes, representing 51.10 per cent, to retain the slot in an election which was supervised by the municipal electoral officer.

George Kuntu Blankson, his closest challenger, polled 1,579 votes, representing 29.30 per cent, while Chief Biney, the third contestant, got 1,059, representing 19.75 per cent.

Mr Blankson is reported to have enjoyed the support of the leaders of the community, looking at his pedigree and the kind of resources he could pool to help develop Ekumfi.

The Head of Corporate Communications at the Volta River Authority (VRA), Samuel Fletcher, was elected the candidate for Gomoa West.

Results collated from the 34 polling centres in the constituency put Fletcher at 4,494 votes, as against 1,284 obtained by the incumbent MP, Francis Kojo Arthur.

The Deputy Trade Minister, Kweku Ricketts Hagan, was re-elected in Cape Coast South. He polled 5,104 votes, as against Thomas Hughes Amissah’s 796.

Ms Hanna Tetteh, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, also won by a landslide to become the candidate for Awutu Senya West.

Anthony Christian Dadzie, the incumbent MP for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese, polled 1,255 votes as he lost the slot because Dr Samuel Kweku Hayford had 1,525 to annex his ticket to contest in 2016.

A former TV3 Morning Show host, Eric Don Arthur, also won his bid to represent the NDC in Effutu. He polled 1,694 votes, while his opponent, Ambrose Entsiwah, secured 1,262 votes.

Final results from Tarkwa-Nsuaem indicate that the popular actor and comedian, Kwame Dzokoto, won in the parliamentary primary there.

Dzokoto, who had promised his fans he would win the primary “hands down”, polled 1,415 votes, as against 402 otained by his closest challenger, Joseph Otchere.

Voting yesterday

Voting was generally smooth, except in some 14 constituencies where the process was suspended and scheduled for yesterday due to disagreements and irregularities with the voters register.

Yesterday voting took place in the 14 constituencies in the Ashanti, Greater Accra and Western regions.

Voters in those constituencies were unable to cast their ballots to decide the fate of aspirants in Saturday’s polls as a result of some irregularities in the voters register.

Some voters could not find their names in the register, while others could not get voting materials on time to begin the process.