Chairman Wontumi, Osei Prempeh in straight fight in Ashanti Regional NPP election
Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital, will be the focus of many supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and other political observers as the party holds its regional congresses today.
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The contest for the position of regional chairman of the NPP in Ashanti will be interesting, fierce and competitive.
It has been reduced to a two-man race between Mr Bernard Antwi-Bosiako, aka Chairman Wontumi, a former Bosomtwe Constituency Chairman, and Mr Kwame Osei Prempeh, a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsuta-Kwamang-Beposo.
Since Chairman Wontumi decided to join the race, the regional election in Ashanti has assumed a different and competitive dimension.
It has been described as a contest between youthful exuberance with a big money bag and experience and high legal acumen.
More than 800 delegates from 47 constituencies would gather at the Old Laundry of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) today for the event.
Thirty-seven candidates are contesting for various regional executive positions.
Western Region
Beyond Ashanti, another region where the contest will be interesting is the Western Region where the incumbent, Nana Owusu Ankomah, who has served eight years in office, faces a fierce challenge from Mr Kendicks Dickson Attah-Nketia, a businessman, and Joseph Edward Payne.
The first vice-chairman position is being contested by three persons, namely Kojo Acquah, Ben Kwaw and Frank Eti.
The second vice-chairmanship is being contested by Francis Ndede Siah and Alhaji Ridwan Ishaq.
Three contestants are vying for the secretary position. They are K. K. Sam, the incumbent, Charles Bissue and Okatakyie Amankwa Afrifa.
The women organiser position is being contested for by Madam Abena Kwallah, the incumbent, Mrs Golly Antwi-Bosiako and Madam Adwoa Nyarko.
Greater Accra
The contest in the Greater Accra Region will equally be watched. In Tema today at the WAEC Hall, the incumbent Chairman, Ishmael Ashittey, faces a stiff opposition from George Isaac Amo, a former MP for Ayawaso West Wuogon.
The competition in other regions will equally be keenly contested as incumbents try to maintain their hold on the leadership of the party while other new faces want to make inroads.
In all, 5,000 delegates will decide the fate of 267 candidates who filed to contest in the elections as of the close of nomination on January 7, 2014.
Preparations
According to the NPP Director of Elections, Mr Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, all is set for the smooth conduct of the elections, which would be under the supervision of officials from the EC.
He told the Daily Graphic yesterday that all the election materials had been conveyed to the regional voting centres.
Mr Korsah said voting would begin at 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m., adding that the same procedure used in national elections in respect of identifying one’s name in the voters register, going through other identification checks and casting the ballot, were applicable.
He advised non-NPP members who had no business at the voting centres to keep off because adequate security arrangements had been put in place to deal with intruders.
Expectations
Mr Korsah expressed optimism that the conduct of the elections would be smooth and successful.
“From the work we have done so far, everything is in place and my expectation is that the elections would be successful,” he remarked.
He said with the amount of work that had been put into the organisation of the elections, success would surely be achieved.
Media concerns
Mr Korsah expressed concern over a publication in the Daily Graphic which suggested that there was factionalism within the NPP.
Other media organisations had also reported ahead of the regional executive elections that some delegates, national executive officers and party bigwigs were divided along the camps of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Alan Kyerematen, who are considered the frontrunners in the race to bear the NPP flag for the 2016 presidential election.
But Mr Korsah was displeased with such suggestions.
“We don’t have any factionalism in the party,” he said in a tone that reflected his displeasure.
NPP statement
Meanwhile, the leadership of the NPP has expressed the firm belief that today’s elections would be held in the spirit of fairness so that the party can get back to pursuing the agenda of wresting power from the NDC, whose reign has only brought incompetence and despondency to the nation since it assumed the reins of power five years ago.
A statement signed by the NPP General Secretary, Mr Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, and issued in Accra yesterday urged the party faithful to consciously let peace and unity within the NPP serve as a constant guide in order to strengthen the party to offer a more attractive and competent alternative to the people of Ghana.
While congratulating all members of the party who participated in polling station and constituency elections over the last two months in an effort to reorganise the party for the general election in 2016, the statement urged the delegates to today’s elections to further deepen those credentials.
“The generally peaceful, united, free and fair manner in which the elections have been held is a testament to the NPP’s belief in democracy and reinforces the party’s position as a leading democratic political party in Ghana,” it added.
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