43 To contest NPP primary in Volta

A total of 43 New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary aspirants, including five women, have been vetted to contest the party’s primary in orphaned constituencies in the Volta Region.

Mr Frederick Fredua Anto, the Second National Vice Chairman of the party, who disclosed this to journalists in Ho said the vetting committee declared four aspirants unopposed.

They are Mr John Peter Amewu, the Energy Minister, for the Hohoe Constituency; Mr Simon Peter Kofi Owusu for Akatsi North; Mr Raybon Evans Anyadi for Adaklu and Mr Prosper Pi-Bansah for the Ho Central constituencies.

He said by Article 12 of the party’s Constitution, aspirants for such positions ought to be active members for at least two years in good standing, owe no allegiance to another country and have honoured their tax obligations religiously.

Mr Anto said the vetting committee had no capacity to disqualify any aspirant at that level and that the aspirants had up to August 17 to be declared legitimate to contest, with an appeal corridor available to contest adverse findings.

More chief executives to contest

Mr Anto said majority of the aspirants were Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) who had become the face and liaison for the party.

He said constituencies with Members of Parliament (MPs) would have their turn soon with a requirement that MMDCEs interested to contest such seats would principally resign their positions to be legitimate to contest.

He said the party was targeting some four parliamentary seats in the 18 constituencies with 40 per cent of votes in the region, and optimistic that the government’s flagship interventions would tilt political fortune towards the party.

NDC clears 60 to contest

In a related development, the vetting committee of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the region has also cleared 60 aspirants to contest the party’s primaries in the region, slated for August 24.

The Convention People’s Party (CPP) and other small parties are yet to make themselves visible in preparation for the 2020 general election. - GNA