NDC primaries in E/R to be fiercely contested
The November 21 parliamentary primaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Eastern Region will be fiercely contested following various strategies being adopted by aspirants to win and become candidates on the ticket of their party.
Although all the aspirants have been made by the regional executive of the party to sign a code of conduct to be of good behaviour most of the campaigns of the aspirants have been fraught with allegations and counter allegations coupled with serious mud-slinging.
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Out of the 33 constituencies, nine of them have been described by the deputy regional secretary of the NDC, Mr Francis Annor Dompreh, as "very hot". These are Lower Manya, Akwatia, Upper West Akyem, Upper Manya, Yilo Krobo, Abuakwa North, Afram Plains South, Asuogyaman and Suhum.
Lower Manya
The Member of Parliament for the lower Manya constituency, Ebenezer Okletey Terlarbi, is facing a tough challenge, particularly from the immediate past Municipal Chief Executive, Isaac Tetteh Agbo, and two others, namely Dr Joseph Teye Nuetey of the Ghana Health Service and George Narkoli, a businessman.
In fact, the campaigns of Mr Terlabi and Mr Agbo have become so acrimonious to the extent that supporters of the two personalities do not see eye to eye with one another. Mr Agbo's camp believes that the removal of Mr Agbo as the Municipal Chief Executive was orchestrated by Mr Terlabi when he was a Deputy Minister of Defence, although Mr Agbo had exhausted his four-year mandate. So to the Agbo camp it is a pay-back time. However looking at the performance of the other two candidates, Dr Nuetey and Mr Narkoli, a surprise win would not be far-fetched as any of them could slip through the infighting involving Mr Terlabi and Mr Agbo.
Akwatia
The MP for Akwatia, Baba Jamal, is having a good run for his money from a tough candidate, Basel Ahiable, a businessman. Reports indicate that anytime the camp of Ahiable coughed, the Jamal camp caught cold. This has, however, been refuted by the Jamal camp who believe that being an old fox with a lot of political experience, he would not sit down to be overtaken by events. The demography of the constituency makes the contest interesting as the area is dominated by people of Ewe descent and muslims, and the two candidates are using these forms of identification to win votes from the delegates.
Abuakwa south
"When the battle was hot, where were you?". This is on the lips of the supporters of Alhaji Sanusi Mohammed against Owuraku Amofa, a former Deputy Minister of Tourism, who is also contesting for the seat after a political hiatus. Alhaji Mohammed contested on the ticket of the NDC in the 2012 parliamentary elections but lost and is of the belief that he is the best person to win the much-revered Abuakwa South seat, which has eluded the NDC since multi -party democracy was reintroduced in 1992.
The supporters say they believe that Owuraku Amofa has lost touch with the people.However, those behind Owuraku Amofa, who is a cousin to the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party, think that with his stature in the constituency as a former Member of Parliament for the area, the NDC could make a headway. As to whether this would work depends on delegates on the election day.
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Yilo Krobo
Despite the strong challenge being posed by the Municipal Chief Executive for Yilo Krobo, Mr Andrews Soda, the MP, Mr Magnus Kofi Amoatey, is confident of victory because of what he describes as "my good work will win the day for me".
The third candidate, Mr Michael Ologo, who is a businessman and a royal from the Yilo Krobo paramountcy, says he is of the conviction that November 21 belongs to him since he is young and very affable and a grass-roots man.
Lower Manya and Upper West Akyem
In Lower Manya, the contest could swing to the MP, Jeff Kavianu, Raymond Azu Tetteh or Bismark just like the Upper West Akyem where the MP, Joseph Amankwanor, is battling hard to retain his seat which is being also contested for by the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Derek Assiful.