Vicky Bright, a former deputy Minister at the Presidency, lost to Ahmed by 12 votes in a hotly-contested primary on Saturday but she suspects foul play, saying that the voting process was flawed.
“I have major issues with the election process, in the sense that the number of votes cast that were ticked in the register does not tally with the number of votes that were actually cast. “Somebody obviously was not doing their arithmetic properly,” she told Joy FM.
According to her, her polling agent had, prior to counting, raised an alarm but the electoral officers did not budge. Based on her suspicion, she has petitioned the party headquarters for redress.
NPP General Secretary Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie has confirmed that two constituencies have shown dissatisfaction with last Saturday’s process.
“The party has received two petitions from the Okaikoi South and North Tongu Constituencies; these will be looked into extensively by the mandated body within the party structure headed by Mr. Odoi Sykes, former National Chairman and High Commissioner to Canada. A fair hearing will be given anybody aggrieved from the process.
We ask for calm whilst the petitions are being looked at, and urge all to use the party structures in addressing grievances,” he said in a statement issued in Accra yesterday.
In all, 520 aspirants contested in 220 constituencies, 64 females and 456 males. There were elections in 147 constituencies whilst 73 were returned without a contest, the statement added.
NPP noted that 22 women emerged as candidates from the contest including four who were returned unopposed. The party said 11 sitting MPs lost at the polls, even though Daily Guide’s checks showed that about 14 incumbent MPs lost.
“On behalf of the flagbearer and leadership of the party, we wish to congratulate all for the show of maturity throughout the contest and the hard work, dedication, enthusiasm and above all the commitment exhibited by the entire party in making the primaries a great success.
“We also want to express our appreciation to the Electoral Commission of Ghana, The Ghana Police Service and all who in diverse ways assisted in making the Primaries a success,” the statement said.
NPP raised the bar of democracy in the country’s politics on Saturday when it held what has proven to be successful parliamentary primaries across the length and breadth of the country after expanding its electoral college.
Though generally peaceful, the election was not without an event since it claimed some major casualties, with sitting MPs losing their re-election bids.
Among the major surprises was the loss by the tough-talking MP for Asokwa, Maxwell Kofi Jumah, Ahafo Ano South MP, Stephen Balado Manu, Okaikoi North MP, Elizabeth Sackey, New Juaben South MP, Bernice Beatrice Boateng, Adansi Fomena MP, Nana Abu Bonsra and Abuakwa North MP, Prof Samuel Kwadwo Amoako, MP for Kumawu, Yaw Baah, Obuasi MP, Edward Ennin.
News of their loss and those of some of other top-notch members of the party like Christine Churcher, Yaw Buaben Asamoah, Vicky Bright and Grace Omaboe, who were trying to secure tickets to enter Parliament in their respective constituencies, came as a surprise to many since they were largely tipped to win.
But others including Adwoa Safo, Ursula Owusu, Frances Essiam, Patricia Appiagyei, J.B. Danquah Adu, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Emmanuel Agyarko, Musah Superior, Job Acquah Markin, Patrick Yaw Boamah, Dr Matt Asibey, Ahmed Arthur secured mandates to contest the 2012 parliamentary elections on the ticket of the NPP.
Incumbent MPs who managed to retain their seats included Minority leader and MP for Suame, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, Nhyieso MP, Dr. Richard Anane, Manhyia MP Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Okere MP Dan Botwe, Sekondi MP Papa Owusu Ankomah, Suhum MP Fred Opare Ansah, New Abirem MP Esther Obeng Dapaah and a host of others.
Their winning came amidst wild jubilations from their supporters in the company of brass bands.
In some cases, the losers openly and gladly accepted defeat and pledged their unflinching support for the winners in the general interest of the party winning the 2012 general elections except the Okaikoi South constituency.
Grace Omaboe, also known as Maame Dokono, lost to the incumbent MP, Esther Obeng Dapaah whilst Kofi Jumah lost to former KMA boss Madam Patricia Appiagyei.
Iddrisu Musah Superior, who contested the Tamale Central ticket from his base in the United Kingdom, beat two other persons with 278 votes to win the slot whilst daughter of Apostle Kwadwo Safo, Adwoa Safo, polled 186 votes to beat her closest contender, Mike Oquaye Jnr who had 124 for the Dome Kwabenya primaries.
In Adenta, former National Women’s Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Frances Assiam, won the slot with 129 votes to beat four other contestants including NPP kingpin Yaw Buaben Asamoa who had 64.
Surprisingly, MP for Abuakwa North, Prof. Samuel Kwadwo Amoako, who won the seat two years ago, lost his position by picking only two votes as opposed to the former MP for the area, J.B. Danquah Adu, who polled 296.
Former Information Minister Stephen Asamoah Boateng also won the Mfantseman West primary with 643 votes to beat his contender Ralph Inkoom who had 21 votes, whilst NPP stalwart Dr Kobina Arthur Kennedy failed to win the Abura/Asebu/Kwamankese seat. He managed to secure 159 votes as against his main opponent Job Acquah Markin, who polled 299 votes.
Aburi-Nsawam MP and former Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Osei Bonsu Amoah, retained his bid with 544 votes, whilst Magnus Opare Asamoah polled 214 votes in his attempt to stage a comeback.
Former MP for Cape Coast, Christine Churcher’s comeback bid suffered a major setback when she managed to secure 148 votes of the total vote cast whilst her closest rival Alfred Kojo Thompson won the slot with 198 votes.
MP for Kwadaso, Dr. Akoto Owusu Afriyie, also retained his position by polling 276 votes, whilst his contender Josephine Hilda Addo, who initially raised concerns about the elections, had 57 votes.
MP for Okaikoi North, Elizabeth Sackey, could not retain her seat as she managed to poll 212 votes as against 350 by Patrick Yaw Boamah, her closest contender and eventual winner.
Vociferous Vice President of FIDA International, Ursula Owusu, won the NPP Ablekuma South constituency primary with 401 votes against Benjamin Brown who had 100 votes, whilst incumbent MP for the Fomena Constituency Nana Abu Bonsra lost his re-election bid to Nana Atta Boafo.
MP for New Juaben South constituency, Beatrice Boateng also lost to Dr Matt Asibey Yeboah. Dr Yeboah polled 240 to beat Madam Boateng who managed 174 votes whilst former Communications Director of NPP, Kwaku Kwarteng beat incumbent MP for Obuasi, Edward Ennin to his position.
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