NDC primaries in Central Region - How it stands
The ground is set for the battles for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primaries in the central region.
Advertisement
In all 65 persons successfully went through vetting to wrestle for the 23 parliamentary slots in the region.
They include 13 incumbent MPs, six Metropolitan/ Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), four former MMDCEs, two former MPs, two regional executives and four constituency executives.
The NDC currently holds 16 of the 23 seats in the region.
A member of the regional communications team, Mr Kwesi Dawood said the party was determined to annex 20 seats in the 2016 elections.
Mr Cassiel Ato Forson of the Ajumko Enyan Essiam constituency and Mr Obeng Inkoom of the Agona West constituency are spared the wrestling because by the close of nominations, neither of them had a challenger.
But the heat is building up and already the NDC is battling with its own internal skirmishes in some of the constituencies.
At the Cape Coast South constituency, one of the aspirants Thomas Hughes Amissah contesting the incumbent Kweku Ricketts Hagan has accused the constituency executives of bias, alleging that constituency executives were campaigning for Ricketts Hagan.
It is a straight fight between Hughes and Ricketts in the constituency.
Cape Coast North
Unlike the Cape Coast South, the Cape Coast North constituency has five contestants.
They include head of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication Mr Kobby Akyeampong, the former Metropolitan Chief Executive for Cape Coast, Anthony Egyir Aikins, Charles Kojo Walker.
The others are Mr Justice Boison and Kakra Yalley, stalwarts of the party in the region.
Other Trending Stories
The contest would be interesting as Kobby Akyeampong brings his national popularity against home strengths like Egyir Aikins and Kraka Yalley, Bioson and Walker.
Kobby Akyeampong’s main goal in his campaign is to establish that he is a Cape Coaster. He is known in national politics rather than in Cape Coast politics.
For now Charles Walker’s campaign under the alias “Home boy”, seems a force to reckon with.
The Atta Mills Factor
In the controversial Komenda-Edina Eguafo Abrem (KEEA) constituency, the younger brother of the late president Professor John Evans Atta Mills, Mr Samuel Atta Mills introduces a new dimension to the game.
He is one of the three vying for the candidature in the NDC stronghold being held now by the New Patriotic Party’s Dr Nana Ato Arthur.
The two others are Mr Francis Asmah, Takoradi based lawyer and Mr Mathew Kwoffie the current constituency secretary of the party.
Ms Doreen Mannieson was disqualified at the vetting.
Mr. Samuel Mills’ calm and composed nature may, plus the goodwill attending his sail from his late brother’s name, gives him a great start in the race.
Mfantsiman
The Municipal Chief Executive, Henry Hayfron would battle it out with two others, Mr Kobina Mannor and Mr James Essoun, the party’s constituency chairman.
Kuntu Blankson in Ekumfi
Former Member of Parliament for Mfantsiman and party stalwart in the region, Mr George Kuntu Blankson’s appearance on the scene again in the Ekumfi constituency is certain to make life uncomfortable for the incumbent, Abeiku Crentsil.
A third contender, Chief Hamilton Biney, a constituency executive is also no less a contender. It is a constituency to watch.
In the Twifu Atti-Mokwaa constituency, another former MP Madam Elizabeth Amoah Tetteh has resurfaced to contest the incumbent, Mr Samuel Ato Amoa, while a third person, Mr David Vondee, a party stalwart in the constituency is also in the race.
Another Ahwoi For Pokuaa
In the Agona East constituency, the touted sister of the Ahwois, Madam Efua Bram-Larbi is up against the incumbent, Madam Queenstar Pokuaa Sawyer. Though there is a third contestant, Mr Felix Ackom Arhin, many have described it as a battle of the women.
Pokuaa beat Kwesi Ahwoi in the last primary and went ahead to win the seat.
Broadcaster, Eric Don Arthur and Ambrose Entsiwah will wrestle for the candidature in the Effutu constituency.
The Volta River Authority’s public relations officer Samuel Kwesi Fletcher, and the incumbent, Francis Arthur would also engage in a who-is-who duel in the Gomoa West constituency.
The Assin Central is also another interesting constituency to watch.
Renowned entrepreneur and businessman Dr Richard Asiedu has stepped down in the race, leaving the contest between the current DCE, Dr Kofi Blankson and a former DCE, Mr Alex Antwi Boasiako.
Incumbent Samuel Ambre, Augustina Amoakoh and James Quayson also would meet in the contest in the Assin North constituency.
The DCE for Assin South, Nana Kwabena Anomafo and Sabina Appiah-Kubi also a former DCE went through vetting for the constituency and would meet on November 21.
Georgina Nkrumah Aboah, the incumbent MP for Asikuma Odoben Brakwa and Alhaji Alhassan Ghansah would also be battling for the candidature for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa.
Incumbent Rachael Appoh would also seek to retain her candidature as she wrests with three others, Mr J.E. Adams, Ekow Dampson and Mr Arthur Duncan in the Gomoa Central constituency while Mr Bruce Amissah, Theophilus Kofi Ampah and Desmond De-graft Paitoo will contest in the Gomoa West constituency.
Mr Ambrose Amoah Ashyia and Alex Dorman face each other for the candidature in the Upper Denkyira West constituency while the Municipal Chief Executive for Upper Denkyira East, Ms Emelia Ankomah, Sekyere Koi Thompson and Paul Boateng contest the election in Upper Denkyira East constituency.
Mr Bright Amankrah and Foster Joseph Andoh, the incumbent would go for the Hemang Lower Denkyira contest.
In the Awutu Senya East, the MCE will do battle.
Hannah Tetteh Faces Captain
Two persons including Ms Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, who is also incumbent MP and Captain Asuako Wiredu will face off for the party’s blessing for Awutu Senya West.
In the Abura Asebu Kwamankese constituency, six people including the former DCE William Atta Mends, the incumbent MP Mr Christian Dadzie, Dr. Samuel Kweku Hayford, Kweku Ansrow, Ekua Swanzy, and Eric Akosah would be in the contest.
One feature is clear with the elections, and that is that aspirants are targeting more than the delegates.
Their posters are on taxis and at the bus stops and every available space in town.
Mr Yaw Aseidu, the Regional Electoral Officer said it would be good for the winners and make the campaigns for the general elections easier for them.
About 155,000 would be voting at the 572 voting centres in the 23 constituencies.
“Everything is set for a smooth election exercise,” he stated, adding that we are certain that the people chosen would be marketable to the electorate in the general elections.
Mr Dawood said he was optimistic that the party would have successful primaries and go on to win massively in the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections.
He called for cooperation from all to ensure the voting was a success.