Voting underway in NPP parliamentary primaries [LIVE UPDATES]

Graphic Online Politics Jun - 20 - 2020 , 08:23

Voting is underway across the country in the selection of parliamentary candidates for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the December 2020 Elections.

Delegates in the Kwadaso constituency of Ashanti will have their turn on Wednesday, June 24 while two other constituencies - Asante Akyem North and Subin - that would complete the exercise have been put on hold owing to court injunctions.

The NPP's Director of Research and Elections, Evans Nimako who confirmed the party has been served with the injunctions, said the National Executive Council of the party has endorsed 67 individuals as sole candidates in 67 constituencies.

In all about 102,000 delegates are involved in electing the parliamentary candidates.

Tema East

From the Tema East Constituency in Greater Accra, Benjamin Xornam Glover reports that the voting started on schedule as delegates trickled in wearing face masks and gloves in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

There are 11 polling stations in the Tema East constituency.

The incumbent Member of Parliament, Mr Daniel Titus Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover is facing stiff competition from Mr Benjamin Ashitey Amarh.

At the Early Childhood Development Centre polling station in the Tweadease Primary School, 26 delegates out of 52 delegates in the roll had cast their ballot as at 7:30am.

The Presiding Officer, Mr Abraham Osom told the Graphic Online that the process had been smooth so far.

Voting delayed in Ablekuma North

From the Ablekuma North in Greater Accra, Kester Aburam Korankye reports the start of the voting delayed.

As of 8:30 am the 945 delegates were still waiting to cast their votes.

At the Afropa polling station in Darkuman East electoral area, voting had been suspended when the Graphic Online arrived at 8 am.

The situation was same at the Christ Ebenezer School in the Darkuman West electoral area earlier.

Four candidates, Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Barwuah, Ms Sheila Bartels, Mr John Agbotey and Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh are contesting.

Although delegates had converged at the voting centres, with officials of the Electoral Commission (EC) present, no delegate had been allowed to vote as at 8:30 am.

Sekondi-Takoradi

From the twin-city of Sekondi-Takoradi, Dotsey Koblah Aklorbortu reports the voting started amidst strict enforcement of Covid-19 safety protocols.

Those who arrived at the centres, Electoral Officers and agents for aspirants among others were all in their face masks.

Officials also provided hand sanitizers for those in the queue to vote. Veronica buckets with soap and water for the washing of hands were also at the voting centres.

As of 9am, the voting process was orderly at various centres visited by Graphic Online.

Bono

From the Bono Region, Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah and Biiya Mukusah Ali report that voting in all the 1,243 polling stations in the 322 electoral areas were ongoing.

In all, a total of 25 aspirants are contesting the internal polls in six out of the 12 constituencies in the region.

Five Members of Parliament are standing unopposed while the party has already elected its candidate for the Banda Constituency which is the only seat being held by the opposition NDC in the region.

The unopposed aspirants are Mr Ignatius Baffuor-Awuah, Sunyani West, Siaka Stevens, Jaman North, Ali Maiga Halidu, Dormaa West, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, Dormaa Central and Kwaku Agyenim-Boateng, Berekum West.

A total number of 6,205 delegates are voting in the 1,243 are taking part in the exercise across the six contesting constituencies.

The constituencies are Sunyani East where incumbent Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh is facing a stiff challenge by a colleague lawyer, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah and Berekum East where the sitting MP, Dr Kwabena Twum-Nuamah is being challenged by Paul Ofori-Amanfo, Solomon Kyere-Boadu and Nelson Kyeremeh.

In the Wenchi Constituency, incumbent Professor Gyan-Baffuor, who is the Minister for Planning is being challenged by Tina Abrefa-Gyan, Kojo Frempong, Yaw Opoku Atuahene and Albert Ameyaw while the Deputy Minister for Aviation and MP for Jaman South, Yaw Afful is being challenged by Alex Kwasi Awuah and Prince Yeboah Marfo.

In the Dormaa East Constituency, incumbent William Kwasi Sabi who is the Deputy Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation is contesting the primary with Paul Apraku Twum Barima and Kwabena Sarfo-Kantanka while the attempt by the sitting MP for Tain, Gabriel Osei to contest for his second term is being challenged by Alex Ofori and Alexander Ababio.

Voting at the Magazine Polling Station in the Sunyani East Constituency was smooth at the time Graphic Online visited.

As of 7.40 am, eight out of the 25 delegates expected to cast their ballots had already done so.

All the voters wore NPP branded face masks while a Veronica bucket filled with water for handwashing and hand sanitisers had been provided for the delegates to sanitise their hands.

At the Ahenboboano Electoral Area, also in the Sunyani East Constituency, 15 out of the 25 delegates had already cast their votes as of 7.30 am.

There were security men stationed at all the polling stations that the Daily Graphic visited while no incident had occurred as of the time of filing this report.

Dome-Kwabenya

Desmond Kofi Tawiah reports from the Dome-Kwabenya constituency, where the incumbent MP, Ms. Sarah Adwoa Safo is facing stiff competition from Ghana's Ambassador to India Mr. Mike Oquaye Jnr, that voting started as scheduled with delegates trooping in clad in face masks.

There are 10 polling centres in the constituency with 1040 delegates expected to cast their vote.

At the Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana Atomic Campus at Dome, hand sanitizers were positioned at the entrance for delegates to sanitize their hands before taking part in the voting process. However, there were no veronica buckets in sight.

Some party faithfuls capitalized on the opportunity to cash in on business as party paraphernalia such as scarf, flags and hats were put on sale.

At 8:20 am, the Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo cast her vote.

Speaking to the media, she expressed her satisfaction at the conduct of the elections so far with the necessary COVID-19 protocols being observed.

She was optimistic that, she would be victorious once again, at the end of the day.

"I am very hopeful. I declare victory, favor from the Lord. I believe that he is my strength, my salvation and he will give me victory" Ms Adwoa Safo stated.

Adentan

Severious Kale-Dery reports that voting started in all the 13 polling stations throughout the Adentan Constituency on schedule.

At 7:34 am when Graphic Online got to the collation centre at The Light Academy (TLA) designated for only the constituency executives, elders and patrons, and one of the contestants Mr Emmanuel Kwesi Mantey had already voted.

The incumbent, Mr Yaw Buaben Asamoa is bent on picking the slot but has to struggle it out with four other contenders.

The four are Mr Emmanuel Kwesi Mantey, Madam Freda Agyemang Sarpong, Mr Rahman Zak and Mr Alfred Ababio Kumi.

The Constituency Chairman Mr Koku Acolatse said everything was in place and voting was going on smoothly in all the polling centres.

At the New Legon Electoral Area at Institute of Accountancy polling station, eight out of 46 candidates have already voted by 8:30 am according to the Electoral Area Coordinator Mr Ernest Agyekum Tuffour.

The Adenta Community Centre polling station recorded the highest turnout with 56 out of the 135 casting their votes as at 9am.

But the significant feature at the Adentan Community School Centre was the booming of business as some party members cashed in to sell party paraphernalia.

Okaikwei North

Voting started exactly at 7am at the Imnacipation Catholic School polling station within the Okaikwei north constituency in Accra, reports Juliet Sarfo.

All delegates were made to observe all the protocol measures amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

The incumbent Member of Parliament, Mr Fuseini Issah is facing stiff competition from Mr Kenneth Korankyi.

As of 9 am about 75 delegates had cast their vote.

Nanton

Samuel Duodu reports that voting started n the Nanton constituency in the Northern Region at 9 am instead of 7 am due to an early morning rain that hit parts of the region.

A total of 317 delegates including constituency executives, council of elders, polling station executives and coordinators are to vote in 21 electoral areas in the constituency.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nanton constituency communication officer, Mr Yakubu Osman popularly known as " O.C" who spoke to Graphic Online about the delay.

Nanton has been identified as one of the hotspots in the NPP primaries in the Northern region.

The contest is a two-horse race affair between Mr Mohammed Hardi Tuferu, the sitting Member of Parliament (MP) for Nanton and Mr Abdulai Kamaldeen, a former NPP Nasara National Coordinator.

Bantama

Daniel Kenu reports from Kumasi that with barely three hours to end the primary in the Bantama constituency, voting appears to be almost over in more than half of the nine polling stations.

At the collation centre at the Cultural Centre for instance, 25 out of the 27 delegates had voted by 10:00 am.

There is strict adherence to the Covid-19 protocols as the security services insist on a face mark no entry policy.

The seat is being contested by the incumbent Daniel Okyem-Aboagye and Deputy Chief of Staff, Francis Asenso Okyere.

The presiding Officer, Mr Ofori Amanfo, commended delegates for adhering to all the rules and expressed the hope the elections will end well.

Navrongo and Zebilla

Vincent Amenuveve reports that 1224 were voting in a total of 69 electoral areas in the Navrongo Central and Zebilla Constituencies in the Upper East Region.

In the two constituencies, delegates are expected to cast their ballots in a total of 233 polling stations.

In the Navrongo Central constituency, the sitting MP and Aviation Minister, Mr Joseph Kofi Adda is facing stiff competition from the Upper East Regional Minister, Ms Tangoba Abayage.

In the Zebilla Constituency, the current MP and Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Frank Adongo Fuseini has locked horns with a new entrant, Dr John Kingsley Krugu, a development worker.

In the Tempane Constituency, there is no voting because the sitting Member of Parliament and Deputy Attorney General, Mr Joseph Dindiok Kpemka, is going unopposed.

Kassena Nankana

At the Kassena Nankana Municipal polling centre, where voting started at 7:20 am, 17 delegates out of a total of 28 eligible voters had cast their votes as of 9:22 am.

The Presiding Officer, Mr Francis Sekyere Duodu told Graphic Online that all the health protocols were being enforced and that the only challenge they had was when one voter’s name was not in the register.He noted that the issue was not allowed to degenerate into misunderstanding as it was resolved and the individual was eventually allowed to vote.

Also in the Gayingo, Dabo and Namola electoral areas in the Navrongo Central constituency voting was peaceful and the necessary health protocols were being observed including the wearing of nose masks and the washing of hands.

Cape Coast

Shirley Asiedu-Addo reports from Cape Coast that voting was going in Cape Coast North constituency with strict adherence to COVID 19 safety protocols.

There were no queues at the stations visited.

As of 8.45 am seven people out of the 24 persons expected to cast their votes there had voted at the constituency office polling station.

Mrs Barbara Asher Ayisi, incumbent MP and Deputy Minister of Works and Housing cast her vote around 9 am and said she was optimistic about winning.

The presiding officer, Mr Stephen Gyakye said the process had been smooth so far.

At the Abura Catholic School, six out of the 41 persons had cast their votes when the Graphic Online got there around 7.30 am.

Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro

Chris Nunoo reports that two agents who are to monitor the elections at the Joy Academy School polling station at the Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro Constituency engaged in fisticuffs over the removal of a banner and posters of one of the five aspiring candidates from the precinct of the polling station.

The misunderstanding which was further marred by the insistence of Mr Hopeson Adorye that removal of the banner and posters was an electoral offence delayed the commencement of the elections for about 15 minutes.

The Presiding Officer, Mr Abraham Essiem, together with a member of the NPP constituency elections committee and police officers on duty engaged the agents and other members of the party to remove the banner and posters which according to the electoral officer must be about 100 meters away from the polling station.

Mr Adorye who was in the company of Mr Sylvester Tetteh, one of the aspiring parliamentary candidates disagreed with the directive insisting that the removal of the banner and posters was an electoral offence.

The back and forth continued until security personnel and the electoral officers managed to calm tempers for the posters and banner to be removed for the process to proceed at about 7:15 am

As of 8:05 am, 21 out of a total of 75 delegates had cast their ballot without any further incident.

Mr Essiem said out of the 75 two were votes by proxy.

At the Mary Star of the Sea International School polling station at Ngleshi Amanfro, the Presiding Officer, Mr Samuel Mingle said 31 delegates out of the expected 171 had cast their ballot as at 8:30am.

Graphic Online observed that the process was smooth with all the stakeholders strictly observing the social distancing and the hygiene protocols.

There was an instance when a delegate was turned away by one of the electoral officers at Joy Academy polling station for not wearing a nose mask.

The police were also at hand to provide security and to safeguard the process.

The Bortianor-Ngleshi Amanfro Constituency NPP Parliamentary elections is taking place in all six electoral areas in the constituency.

They are, Galilea, Akwaasa, Kokrobite, Gedan Tuba, Bortianor and Ngleshi Amanfro electoral areas.

Five candidates including the incumbent Alhaji Habib Saad are contesting the elections.

Alhaji Saad is being challenged by Mr Sylvester Tetteh, who is the head of the National Youth Authority (NYA) and a former NPP parliamentary candidate for Prampram, Mr George Osei Wadee, Mr Frederick Abban who is said to be with the Yourh Employment Agency and Gifty Mensah, a teacher and former polling station executive of the party.

Okaikwei South

Timothy Ngnenbe reports from Okaikwei South that delegates were adhering strictly to social distancing and safety protocols as they cast their votes to elect a Parliamentary candidate for the 2020 elections.

The 826 delegates are casting their vote to determine whether the incumbent MP, Mr Ahmed Arthur will still lead them into the December 7, 2020 elections.

But Mr Arthur is being keenly contested by the board chairman of the National Theatre, Nana Fredua-Agyeman Ofori-Atta and a polling station Women Organiser, Ms Dakoa Newman.

Safety protocols

When Graphic Online visited voting centres in areas such as Avenor, Awodome, Bubui, Bubuiashie, Kaneshie, Kaatsean, Goten and Mukose, it was observed that voting was ongoing amid strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocols.

Police officers and other party officials were at the entrance to all voting centres ensuring that no one enters the premises without a face mask.

They also ensured that potential voters washed their hands before proceeding to cast their vote.

Hand sanitisers had also been provided at the centres.

Observation

When Graphic Online got to the St. Theresah's School centre at about 8:30 am, 58 out of the 105 delegates had cast their votes.

At the Bubui centre, 94 out of the 161 delegates had cast their votes as of 9am.

The Presiding officer at the centre, Mr Edward B. Quaye, told the Graphic Online team that there were some initial challenges with the identity of some of the delegates but that had been resolved.

"Some of the names in the album had no images while some pictures too had been swapped. We are identifying such people with their ID cards," he said.

When the team got to the Avenor centre at 10 am, 83 of the 111 delegates had cast their votes.

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