NPP Ashanti primaries: First Deputy Speaker, Majority Leader, 12 others go unopposed
Fourteen out of the 44 sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region will go unopposed during the April 25, 2020 primaries of the party.
They include 11 males and three females.
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Barring any surprises, it also means the candidates are likely to retain their seats even before the December 7, 2020 general election since those constituencies are strongholds of the NPP.
Unopposed candidates
Among the candidates going unopposed are the first Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Joseph Osei Owusu for Bekwai; Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, for Suame; Education Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh for Manhyia South and his Deputy, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum for Bosomtwe, as well as Mr Collins Ntim for Offinso North; Ms Francisca Oteng-Mensah for Kwabre East and Ms Patricia Appiagyei for Asokwa .
The rest are Mr William Owuraku Aidoo for Afigya Kwabre South; Ms Mavis Nkansah Boadu for Afigya Sekyere East; Mr George Oduro for New Edubiase; Mr Francis Manu Adabor for Ahafo Ano South East; Mr Isaac Asiamah for Atwima Mponua; Mr Suleman Adam Sanid for Ahafo Ano North and Mr Emmanuel Anhwere for Atwima Nwabiagya South.
Vetting committee
A statement signed by the Secretary to the National Vetting Committee, Ashanti Zone, Mr Sam Pyne said of the 121 aspiring candidates, 106, comprising 12 females and 94 males, were recommended to the National Executive Committee (NEC) for consideration.
It said five aspiring candidates voluntarily withdrew from the contest, while nine aspiring candidates were not recommended for various reasons.
It, however, said the commendation of Mr Kwadwo Baah Agyeman for Asante Akim North was subject to the lifting of his suspension by the Ashanti Regional party within 21 days.
Competitive seats
Six of the constituencies could be described as very competitive based on the number of aspirants who have filed their nominations.
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The constituencies are Old Tafo, where six aspirants will be seeking to replace Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, the Minister of Monitoring and Evaluation; Akrofuom where six candidates would be slugging out to replace the outgoing MP, Mr Kwabena Appiah-Pinkrah and Afigya Kwabre North with six aspirants including the incumbent, Nana Marfo Amaniampong, contesting for the seat.
The rest are Asante Akim South, where four others including Bice Obuor Osei Kufuor; William Amoah, Edmund Oppong Peprah and Eric Amofa would attempt to unseat the incumbent, Mr Kwaku Asante Boateng and Manso Nkwanta, where four aspirants, Mr Emmanuel Oppong Boakye, Ms Grace Addo, Mr Owusu Mensah and Mr George Obeng would also slug it out with the incumbent Mr Albert Joseph Quarm.