Incumbent constituency executives ‘fall’ at polls

Many incumbent constituency executives lost their positions in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) constituency primaries held last Saturday and Sunday to elect new leaders for the 275 constituencies across the country.

The election was generally peaceful, with isolated cases of misunderstanding in some constituencies.

It was a sad moment for the incumbent Nasara Co-ordinator of the NPP in the Krowor Constituency, Mr Mohammed Alidu who collapsed when he could not stand the shock of losing his position.

Mr Alidu, who was dressed in all white and standing by the collation table while monitoring the tabulation, collapsed when it dawned on him that he was losing.

He was quickly attended to by the electoral officer and a policeman who was there to ensure peace.

Positions contested

Positions contested for in the constituencies include Chairperson, First Vice Chairperson, Second Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, Organiser, Women Organiser and Nasara Coordinator.

At the Sound Foundation School at New Achimota in the Trobu Constituency, the election was held in a peaceful atmosphere amid drumming and dancing by supporters of the candidates.

The Electoral Officer, Mr Michael Boadi, told the Daily Graphic that no incident was recorded.

The Deputy Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mrs Elizabeth Sackey, was at the voting centre to observe proceedings and expressed confidence in the process.

Voting was equally peaceful at the Sunny Side Preparatory School around Nii Boi Town in the Okai Koi North Constituency where 575 delegates cast their votes.

At about 4 p.m when the Daily Graphic got there, voting had ended and counting was underway.

According to electoral officials, the entire process was peaceful.

Isolated confusion

Maxwell Ocloo reports that there was confusion at the West Africa Senior High School in the Madina Constituency when the constituency organiser, Mr Foster Arthur, was nearly stopped from casting his ballot.

This was because some voters claimed he had voted earlier; but it later turned out to be false and he was later allowed to vote.

Also, some candidates who were asked to stay away from a designated restricted area got angry and questioned why some other candidates, who were not agents, were allowed into those restricted areas, and that sparked some disagreements.

Trobu Constituency

Meanwhile, the Trobu Constituency polls took place last Saturday amid a healthy competition among the aspirants contrary to speculation that the charged atmosphere could lead to tension and violence. The election ended peacefully.

The incumbent Chairman, Mr Ofosu Agyei, lost his position to a new entrant, Mr Attuquaye Bruce, in the election which attracted a number of local party stalwarts from the constituency.

The constituency primaries were originally scheduled for February 21 to 24, 2018.