Greater Accra NDC primaries record massive entry

The Greater Accra regional parliamentary primaries of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has recorded a massive entry, with 118 aspirants picking nomination forms to contest at the various constituencies.

The aspirants, comprising 20 women and 98 men, will be seeking the approval of electorate in the 34 constituencies in the region to represent the party in the 2020 parliamentary election.

Filing of nomination forms has been scheduled to take place tomorrow, July 18 and Friday, July 19, 2019.

Barring any change in the party’s calendar, the parliamentary primaries, expected to take place across all 275 constituencies in the country, will be conducted on August 24, 2019.

Breakdown

With the exception of the Ablekuma North Constituency where Ms Winifred Ashley is running unopposed, the rest of the constituencies are expected to be keenly contested.

The Bortianor/Ngleshie/Amanfro Constituency recorded the highest number of aspirants with nine people contesting, followed by the Amasaman Constituency which had six people competing for the spot.

It will be a battle of nerves at the Odododiodoo, Sege, Trobu, Krowor, Ayawaso West Wuogon and Ayawaso North constituencies as each of the constituencies had only two aspirants expressing interest.

The rest of the constituencies recorded between three and five aspirants.

Incumbent MPs

Many incumbent Members of Parliament (MPs), including the MP for Ningo-Prampram, Mr Samuel Nartey George; MP for Ablekuma South, Mr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije; MP for Odododiodoo, Nii Lante Vanderpuije, and Ashaiman MP, Mr Ernest Norgbey, are all seeking to get the nod again to represent the NDC in the 2020 parliamentary election.

The incumbent MP for Shai Osudoku, Ms Linda Ocloo, is also seeking to get the endorsement of the electorate but will face another challenge from a former Executive Director of the National Service Scheme, Dr Michael Kpessah Whyte.

The two clashed in a by-election to choose a parliamentary candidate in June 2016 following the demise of Desmond William Ocloo, the husband of Linda Ocloo, shortly after he was elected.

At Ningo Prampram, the Constituency Chairman of the party, Mr Michael Kwetey Tetteh, has expressed interest to contest the seat for the second time after failing to beat competition from Sam George, who clinched the spot after beating E.T. Mensah in the 2015 parliamentary primaries of the NDC.

Other seats

The Ayawaso West Wuogon parliamentary primaries will see actor John Dumelo compete with Ms Suzzy Afua Adoboe for the seat after Mr Delali Kwesi Brempong, who had represented the party in three parliamentary elections, failed to pick a form.

Mr Dumelo had earlier come forward to contest the NDC primaries for the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency when the seat became vacant following the demise of the incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP, Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko, in November 2018 but rescinded his decision before the main contest.

At the Ledzokuku Constituency, Benita Okity-Dua, who represented the party in the 2012 parliamentary election and went ahead to win the parliamentary seat, is seeking to run for the third time after failing to retain her seat in the 2016 general election.

The Krowor Constituency will witness the return of Ms Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, who represented the party in the 2016 election but failed to retain the seat for the party after the incumbent, Dr Nii Okley Quaye-Kumah, had hanged his boots in politics.