Category: Politics

Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, incumbent Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West Constituency, has been re-elected parliamentary candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP). The Minister of Communications and Digitalisation emerged winner of the NPP parliamentary primaries held in the constituency on Saturday with a landslide victory. She polled 817 of the total valid votes cast, while her contender, Mr Robert Kwesi Nicole, polled 241 votes. The victory means Mrs Owusu-Ekuful would be contesting the 2024 General Election as the Parliamentary Candidate for the NPP for the fourth time. Mrs Owusu-Ekuful, speaking to the media after she was declared winner, said the results of the election were what she had anticipated considering the kind of work she had done within the constituency. 'I am not surprised,' she said, adding, ' My target was 800 votes and we hit and surpassed it, so I am not surprised. We've done a lot of work in the constituency and our executives have reaffirmed their trust and hope in me to retai n this seat for the NPP. 'And I can only tell them that, as my campaign slogan said; it is possible, together. Together, we will win, and win and win again to break the eight.' The Parliamentary Candidate-elect called on her opponent to join forces with her to ensure the Party retained the seat come December 2024. 'The contest is over, the delegates have spoken. It is time for us to join forces to do the work of the NPP in this constituency. 'So, I'm welcoming him to join us to forge ahead in unity and retain this seat for the NPP,' she added. Since it was carved out of the then Ablekuma South Constituency, in 2012, the Ablekuma West Constituency has remained a stronghold of the NPP, winning all three previous elections (2012, 2016 and 2020). On all three previous, victories, the Party had had Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful as its Candidate. Mrs Owusu-Ekuful was optimistic the NPP would retain the seat in the general election, saying 'We will do whatever it takes to do that'. In all, 1,078 votes were cast ou t of which 1,058 were valid votes. Twenty votes were, however, rejected. Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Julian Sarfo-Kantanka, the Birim South District Electoral Officer, has declared Mr Kennedy Osei Nyarko, Incumbent Member of Parliament for Akyem Swedru, as the winner in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primary. He contested with two others and won with 194 votes. The other two; Mr Kwasi Kwaning Bosompem, the Controller and Accountant General, got 94 votes, while Mr Jerome Kwame Akordor, Consultant, got 10 votes. Mr Sarfo-Kantanka said the total number of voters was 303 while the valid votes were 298 with no rejected ballot. The New Patriotic Party scheduled January 27, 2024, to conduct a parliamentary primary election in the various constituencies nationwide to elect a candidate to represent the party in the upcoming general election. The election commenced at 0700 hours and ended at 1400 hours. Source: Ghana News Agency

Madam Tina Gifty Mensah, Incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Weija-Gbawe says her opponent in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) primaries will not win the contest. According to the MP, no one will win an election in the constituency in his or her first time contesting and Mr Jerry Ahmed Shaib, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Coastal Development Authority, would have to wait for his turn. She told journalists at the ongoing NPP parliamentary primaries in the constituency that the delegates would always want to see a person's commitment and loyalty to the constituency before they vote for the fellow. She said that had been the trend since she started her political career in the Weija-Gbawe constituency in the year 2012. 'He is not winning. He just came in so he should perch. When I came in for the first time in 2012, I contested this constituency and I lost. I stayed. I worked and then when it came to my turn, they gave it to me. 'My predecessor whom I beat in 2015 also lost to Ayorkor Botchwey. She stayed, worked and then when it got to her time, they voted for her. So, you must lose, and we will see your commitment level. We will assess whether you are committed to the constituency, or you are just a floating voter,' she said. The NPP is conducting parliamentary primaries in 126 constituencies in the country to elect candidates to contest in the 2024 parliamentary election. In the Weija-Gbawe constituency, voting is being held at the New Gbawe Cluster of schools. Madam Mensah, who calls herself the 'Landlady of Weija-Gbawe,' said she was sure of winning the contest, saying the contest was not a contest at all because she had encountered tougher contests. 'I see a contest, not a serious one. I have gone through a serious contest than this. My election with Obuobia was more serious than this. I know the Lord will come in for me. It is not by my power; it is by the Power of the Almighty God. I am winning,' she said. Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Tema West, has justified his infamous ballot paper snatching incident in parliament, saying it was a show of love and dedication for the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Mr. Ahenkorah gave the justification in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) during the constituency's parliamentary primaries. On January 7, 2021, the MP was caught on camera snatching some ballot papers during the voting for a Speaker of Parliament for the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic. Three years on, the two-term MP, who is not seeking re-election, said his action has a lot to do with his love for the party. 'I don't know how you will sit for someone to come into your house and snatch your baby's toy and go away with it, and you will sit unconcerned without fighting for your concern,' he said. He said he saw it as an opportunity to help the party, especially when they needed to have a speaker who aligned with the NPP to help enforce the government's policies. H e added: 'I did it in support of my party to ensure we don't get an NDC person as the Speaker of Parliament for Nana Akufo-Addo's government,' noting that, 'today, look at what is happening in Parliament; is it something that you like, or do you only prefer to see negativity in parliament?' Source: Ghana News Agency

To speed up the voting process in the ongoing New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary primaries in the Tarkwa Nsuaem constituency, five polling units have been created at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) polling center. The Municipal Electoral Officer, Mr Ekow Essien disclosed this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said since voting would end at 1400 hours, his outfit decided to strategize to ensure every eligible voter exercise his franchise. He emphasized that although delegates did not come early voting started at 0800 hours, adding that all the three candidates were having their polling agents at the five units. 'As you can see the people are all yet to come even those from the far places are not yet here so if we do not put strategic measures in place we may be caught up by circumstances' he added. About one hundred police officers have been positioned at vantage points to ensure safety. A total of 1,310 delegates are expected to cast their ballots. The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr George Mireku Duker, is the incumbent Member of Parliament for Tarkwa Nsuaem is seeking a third term in office. The other two competitors who are contesting the sitting MP are Mr Francis Arisi Eliason, a former military officer in the United Kingdom and Mr Gordon Opoku Boateng currently the headmaster of Asankragwa Senior High School. Source: Ghana News Agency