Party members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) are electing new regional executives this weekend with fierce contests in several regions as the party reorganises ahead of the 2028 general election.
Apart from the Westen North Region, which will hold its elections on Sunday, August 16, the remaining 15 regions are electing theirs today.
From Tema, where the Greater Accra regional elections is underway, Graphic Online's Benjamin Xornam Glover reports that a total of 730 delegates are expected to vote.
Voting got underway at the WAEC Hall in Tema Community 5.
The election has attracted 36 aspirants contesting 10 regional executive positions.
The Greater Accra Regional Research and Elections Officer and a member of the Regional Elections Committee,Ebenezer Doku told Graphic Online that delegates from 32 constituencies are participating in the election.
He explained that each constituency was expected to provide 19 delegates, with Ablekuma West providing 11 delegates because the constituency recently conducted its election and is yet to complete its list of delegates.
The electoral college also includes members of the current Regional Executive Committee, Members of Parliament with voting rights, members of the Regional Council of Elders and Regional Council of Patrons, as well as representatives of accredited institutions and the Tertiary Students Confederacy Network (TESCON).
Mr. Doku said measures had been implemented to prevent double voting by individuals who qualify to vote under more than one category.
He also disclosed that four surviving founding members of the NPP were eligible to vote.
Peaceful voting
Mr. Doku described the exercise as peaceful and orderly, saying the Elections Committee had not received any major complaints or disputes from the candidates.
“So far, it’s smooth. We’ve not encountered any difficulties. No acrimony. No candidate has raised any issue except the normal questions and answers which we have tried to answer,” he said.
Voting began at 8:00 a.m. and was scheduled to close at 2:00 p.m. However, Mr. Doku clarified that any delegate who is already in the queue at the official closing time will be allowed to vote.
Competitive contest
The election is expected to produce a new regional leadership at a critical period for the opposition party as it seeks to rebuild its structures and improve its electoral performance in Greater Accra ahead of the 2028 general elections.
The Regional Chairman position is being contested by Alfred Boye and Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye.
Mr. Boye has campaigned on an economic-focused agenda, promising to promote entrepreneurship, establish Business Advisory Boards in MMDAs and expand skills-development opportunities for young people.
Dr. Okoe-Boye, a former Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku, has been campaigning under the theme “Greater Accra Restoration,” with a focus on rebuilding party unity and reversing the NPP's electoral decline in the region.
The Secretary position is being contested by Daniel Parker Odarlai France and Emmanuel Korkwei Clottey, while Moses Abor, Collins Kofi Asante and Emmanuel Anim Austin are vying for the Regional Organiser position.
For Youth Organiser, the contenders are Kwame Bekoe, Mandela W Iafe and Edward Benjamin Nargeh.
The 1st Vice Chairman race has three aspirants — Racheal Tutu, Joana Frances Adda and Emmanuel King Affotey — while Prince Obeng, Kofi Ofori and Peter Henry Vanderpuije are contesting for 2nd Vice Chairman.
The Women Organiser position has attracted five candidates: Naomi Akosua Owusu, Perpetual Asante, Naana Eyeson, Sarah Dugbakie Pobee and Marie Timitey.
The Communication Officer race has four contenders: Abdul-Rahaman Sabo Adam, Isaac Oheneba Danso Junior, George Asafo-Adjei and Solomon Assante.
Five candidates are also contesting both the Treasurer and Deputy Secretary positions.
The Treasurer aspirants are Michael Danquah, Kofi Twum Boafo, David Laryea, Ellis Annang Shipie and Francisca Anyorkor Boateng Amponsem.
The Deputy Secretary candidates are Gideon Nii Ampim Sackey, Baba Seidu Issaka, Albert Estaraus Nii Kraku, Shaibu Abdullai Ananafo Kabore and Charles Oteng.
Northern Region
Abukari Alhassan Baba reports from the Northern Region that a total of 410 delegates from all 18 constituencies are expected to cast their ballots at the Tamale Sports Stadium.
The exercise is proceeding smoothly.
The chairmanship position is being keenly contested by Mohammed Bantama Samba, the incumbent, Amadu Inusah, popularly known as “Dagomba Boy”, Salifu Abdul Mumin and Musah Fuseini.
For the First Vice Chairman position, the contenders are Iddrisu Sunday and Ayamba Yelmagli, while Dr Fusheini Zakaria Kpana and Dr Abdul Rahman Abdul Karim Kpala are contesting the Secretary position.
Five candidates are vying for the Women's Organiser position. They are Suraiya Manan, Alice Dawuni, Rashida Abdulai, Zenabu Sulemana and Salamatu Abdul Rauf.
The Deputy Secretary position is being contested by Ahmed King Fasail, Kaleem M. Ibrahim and Bediako Jeremiah.
The election is expected to produce a new crop of regional executives who will lead the NPP's activities and organisational structures in the Northern Region.
Unity
The Chairman of the Northern Regional Elections Committee, Salifu Saeed, urged delegates to elect candidates capable of uniting the party and helping it win more seats in the next general election.
He said the party needed unity after the elections to prevent internal disagreements from affecting its electoral fortunes.
Mr Saeed also urged the aspirants to accept the outcome of the election and allow peace to prevail among party members.
“Unity is what we are looking for after the election. We have to do the election peacefully so that our unity will be stronger than before,” he said.
He said the party needed to protect its existing seats and work towards increasing its representation in the Northern Region in the next election.
From Asamankese Pep Sports Complex in the Lower West Akyem Municipality of the Eastern Region, Haruna Yussif Wunpini reported that voting was smooth without any hindrance at the centre.
A total of 715 delegates were to cast their ballots for the various aspirants.
Supporters were seen drumming and dancing to cheer their people to victory.
For the Chairmanship race, Jeff Konadu Addo, the incumbent was battling out with Kwadwo Boateng Agyemang while the First Vice-Chairman slot, Agyekum Kofi Okyere, was also contested by Twum Barimah Koranteng, the incumbent.
For the Secretary position, Tony Osei-Adjei, the incumbent, and Barima Awuah Sarpong Asiedu Larbi, a legal practitioner, battled it out, while the Deputy Secretary position was contested by Nana Yaw Apapin, Sylvanus Mintah Boateng, and Felix Osafo Marfo.
Upper East
Gilbert Azeem Tiroog reported from Bolgatanga that voting that the election tool place at the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs premises, where a total of 334 delegates were to cast their votes.
Upper East Regional NPP Election Results
Chairperson position
1. Elvis Figo Awonekai = 177
2. Osman M.Konkonba= 1
3. Patrick Ayaaba= 13
4. Dr. Moses Kwabena Atinga = 123
5. Filson Kweku Awankuah= 18
1st Vice chairperson
1. Ayamba Georgina= 241
2. Isaac Adawele Atasige= 67
3. Asumda Janet Lamisi= 23
Secretary
1. Daniel Ayine= 181
2. Daniel Kwame Gariba= 151
Deputy Secretary
1. Naoh Thomas Yaab= 107
2. Aputara Akasoba Jeremiah = 56
3. Samuel Asambillah Akaamah= 55
4. Anaane Johnson Ayikene= 114
Women Organiser
1. Abingde Evelyn = 91
2. Margaret Akagwire= 48
3. Ophelia Philomena Aovare= 51
4. Asaaba Fatima= 142
Organizer
1. Mark AyamgaAsampanbila = 73
2. Listowell Adaazi Azongbila= 106
3. Bombande Edmond = 153
Communications Officer
1. Apasinaba Ayine Johnson Austine = 67
2. Dr. Samuel Akonga= 158
3. Ayinbisa Peter Ayamga= 107
Treasurer
1. Anaba Isaac Hakeem= 32
2. Inusah Sally= 94
3. Dr. Daniel Ziba= 206
Nasara Coordinator
1.Adamu Masaud= 28
2. Seidu Abass Ustarz= 107
3. Musah Delwinde Sally= 196
NPP elections ongoing in Ashanti
From Kumasi, Emmanuel Baah reported that delegates from 45 out of 47 constituencies in the Ashanti Region took part in the voting at the Jubilee Park.
Owing to unresolved issues within the Adansi Asokwa and Afigya Sekyere East constituencies, delegates from the two constituencies were part of the elections.
A total of 1,020 delegates were to elect new regional executives.
