Category: Politics

Out of the nine women who contested the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primary in the Eastern Region, only two, successfully secured their positions to represent the party in the upcoming 2024 general elections. Mrs. Abena Osei-Asare, the current Member of Parliament (MP) for Atiwa East and Deputy Finance Minister, along with Mrs. Lauretta Korkor Asante, Deputy Director of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), emerged victorious in the Atiwa West constituency primary. Mrs Lauretta Korkor Asante will be taking over from Mr Kwasi Amoako-Atta, the current Member of Parliament for the area and Minister of Roads and Highways, who decided to step down in the 2024 parliamentary race. The two emerged victorious over four other male contenders in the just-ended ruling party primary elections held in their respective constituencies. Regrettably, the seven remaining women, including Mrs Gifty Twum-Ampofo, the incumbent MP for Abuakwa North and Deputy Education Minister,?failed in their bids for re-election. Also, Madam Gloria Ofori-Boadu, a legal practitioner and women's rights advocate, unfortunately, did not emerge victorious in the Abuakwa South election. Instead, Mr Kingsley Agyemang, a new candidate, was chosen to replace Mr Samuel Atta-Akyea. Madam Benedicta Biamah Adom, who lost to the incumbent MP in the Achiase constituency, and Gifty Obeyaa Asare, an aviation staff member, were two other candidates who were unsuccessful in their bids for political office. Madam Louisa Boakye, the Women's Organiser of the NPP New York branch, along with the current MP, faced a surprising defeat at Fanteakwa South, losing to a fresh candidate. In Fanteakwa North, Madam Barbara Macara Maccugen and the incumbent MP were both defeated by a new candidate. Madam Grace Akosua Amoabeng, a successful businesswoman and deputy communications director for NPP Loyal Ladies, unfortunately,?did not emerge victorious in the Lower West Akyem constituency, losing to the incumbent. Out of the 75 men who competed in the primaries in the Eastern region, nine women, including the two incumbents, were selected to run in 25 out of the 33 constituencies. Source: Ghana News Agency

Alhaji Abdul Aziz Haruna Futa, National NASARA Coordinator of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), says the NPP government has deepened its commitment to the Zongos in terms of development in the last two decades. He said the NPP was the only Party that brought development directly into the Zongo communities and again brought the Zongo Development Fund to uplift the fortunes of that establishment. He said it was also the only Party that gave Zongo communities representation in the national budget. Alhaji Futa made these assertions during the acclamation of Mr John-Peter Amewu, as the Parliamentary Candidate for the NPP at the Gbi-Atabu Park, in Hohoe on Saturday. He said the crowning moment was the elevation of Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, from a Vice President to a Flagbearer of the NPP. He said all these reaffirm that the NPP will grant equal opportunity to all irrespective of ethnicity, religion, or status. Alhaji Futa therefore called on the electorates across the country to vote massively for Dr Bawumia and Mr Amewu in the 2024 general elections. Alhaji Mudashiru Adebayor, Volta Regional NASARA Coordinator told the Ghana News Agency that the policies of the NPP to the Zongo communities were yielding quantifiable results and a big push towards changing the narratives in the Zongos. He said this affirms the mileage the NPP government has covered especially in education, health, and the provision of ICT equipment to the benefit of Zongo communities. Mr Amewu, also Minister of Railway Development re-echoed his resolve to bring equity to develop the Constituency and asked those areas yet to benefit to exercise patience. He said the development calendar was being run in phases insisting 'No community will be marginalised in the scheme of things.' The event drew traditional rulers, national and regional executives, stalwarts of the Party, electorates, and teeming party sympathisers. Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Robert Nicole, a Parliamentary Aspirant of the New Patriotic Party in the Ablekuma West Constituency has accused incumbent Member of Parliament for the area, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, of camping delegates contrary to the Party's directives. Voting in the Constituency delayed for more than 45 minutes despite officials of the Electoral Commission having set up before the official starting time of 0700 hours. The exercise finally started at about 0745 hours. Speaking in an interview with the media, Mr Nicole alleged that the exercise delayed for that long due to the camping of the delegates. 'Most of the delegates are being camped at Christian Home which I was told was against the rules, but a lot of them have been camped and we are waiting for them to be released,' he alleged. Mr Nicole also indicated that there had been a difficulty with delegates obtaining accreditation, adding that, the situation was impeding the process. Meanwhile, Mr Daniel Parker Odarlai France, NPP Greater Accra Regional Secreta ry, vehemently denied the claims of camping, describing them as 'false'. 'I strongly don't believe there is any camping because yesterday, I met with the two aspirants, the constituency executives, and the elections committee and I sent a strong warning that I won't entertain any camping so as I am speaking to you, I don't know where you're picking your report from but there is no camping. 'The is politics for you. People will want to say what the public would want to hear. I don't want to believe there is anything like that,' he added. Voting in the Constituency, however, continues smoothly with delegates trooping in to cast their ballots. Security remains tight at the venue, both within the inner perimeter and the outside, with personnel of the Police Service insisting on 'no accreditation, no entry'. Mr France said they were expecting at least a 95 per cent turnout. A total of 1,112 delegates, including the Council of Elders and patrons of the Party within the Constituency, are expected to vote. Mr Nicole is hoping to topple three times MP for the area, Mrs Owusu-Ekuful, who doubles as the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation. Source: Ghana News Agency

Voting is proceeding smoothly across the various polling centres in the NPP parliamentary primaries in the Ashanti region. While some polling centres opened at exactly 7 am, others were a bit late. A total of 36,084 delegates from 36 constituencies in the region are expected to vote to elect candidates to represent the party in the December general elections. The delegates, made up of polling station and constituency executives, electoral area coordinators, council of elders and patrons, as well as founder members of the party in the various constituencies, are expected to decide the fate of incumbent MPs and new entrants. The Ashanti region has become the focal point in the upcoming New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primaries considering the number of seats it has in the current Parliament. A total of 126 candidates are contesting in the 36 constituencies. Eleven out of the 47 constituencies in the region will not vote in the primaries. This is because, their candidates are either going unoppos ed or are among the orphan constituencies of the party, which had already elected their parliamentary candidates. Among the constituencies where the candidates are going unopposed are Bosomtwe, Ejisu, Effiduase, Offinso South and Adansi Akrofoum. New Edubiase, Ejura-Sekyeredumasi, Sekyere Afram Plains and Asawase, which are the orphan constituencies, have already elected their parliamentary candidates. Voting would not be held at Adansi Fomena, while the Asante Mampong elections has been suspended due to a court injunction. A visit by the Ghana News Agency to some of the constituency polling centres in the region indicate smooth and peaceful atmosphere as the delegates join the queues to cast their votes. Source: Ghana News Agency

Polls have ended at 1400 hours in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primaries in constituencies with sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) nationwide. Some 321 candidates contested 105 parliamentary seats, with 33 incumbent MPs going unopposed. The voting process, to elect parliamentary candidates for the Party ahead of 2024 general election, began at 0700 hours. The Electoral Commission (EC) supervised the election as the police provided security. It was largely peaceful, with some incumbent MPs losing their seats to new entrants. Source: Ghana News Agency