Eight Greater Accra NDC aspirants disqualified from contesting parliamentary primaries

Eight parliamentary aspirants of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Greater Accra and Volta regions could not make it to the parliamentary primaries slated for November 7 due to their disqualification at the just-ended vetting.

They are Leeford Nii Kpako Quarshie (Klottey Korle Constituency), Tony Afenyo (Ashaiman Constituency), Michael Kwetey Tetteh, Ningo Prampram, Isaac Awuku (Domeabra Obom) and Opolu William Kwesi Ahamadzi (Amasaman).

The rest are Solomon Kwame Bachabori of Nkwanta North, Ahmed Muniru of the Akan Constituency and Anthony Selorm Morrison Kofituo from the Kpando Constituency.

They were disqualified on the grounds that they contested as independent candidates in the 2012 general election.

Election guidelines

The eight aspirants had to be excluded for what the party described as a breach of its election guidelines.

The vetting, which was originally slated for last month, was rescheduled to October 6 and 7 and later to October 8 and 9, and it is the last phase of the vetting processs which started on September 22.

About 109 aspirants were expected to be vetted in the Greater Accra Region by the panel comprising regional and national executive members of the party.

Out of the total number of candidates from about 34 constituencies, 16 are sitting Members of Parliament.

Meanwhile, the party has cleared Dr Zanetor Rawlings, a daughter of former President Jerry John Rawlings, to contest a former Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashietey, in the November 7 parliamentary primaries.

Dr Rawlings is eyeing the Klottey Korle Constituency seat on the ticket of the NDC in the 2016 elections.

Press release

A press release issued by the Volta Regional Secretary of the NDC, Simon Amegashie-Viglo, after the vetting process which ended last Friday, said Solomon Bachabori and Ahmed Muniru were disqualified on the grounds of going independent in the 2012 elections, hence not meeting the mandatory four-year active membership criteria.

Anthony Morrison was disqualified because of misrepresentation of information on his CV.

The press statement said 96 aspirants—comprising 84 males and 12 females—were vetted in Ho on Thursday, 8 and Friday, 9 October, 2015 to contest in the upcoming November 7 primaries.

The joint Vetting Committee, under the chairmanship of Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, included national executive officers such as Huduu Yahaya, Kofi Attor, Capt Joshua Akamba, Solomon Nkansah, Alhaji PMC, and regional and constituency executive members.

Clearance on hold

However, clearance for five aspirants from Nkwanta South was put on hold for further consultation.

The clearance of two aspirants from Ketu South—Albert Zigah and Jim Yao Morti—and Christopher Eleblu from North Tongu has also been referred to the national executive members for legal and constitutional decision on their eligibility.

The two contestants for Ketu South are among four other persons aspiring to unseat Fiifi Kwetey, the incumbent MP.

Two sitting MPs—James Klutse Avedzi, MP for Ketu North and Fiifi Kwetey, also Minister of Agriculture—could not appear before the Vetting Committee because they were outside the country on official duty. They will be vetted on their return.