The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, (GIPC) Mr. George Kwame Aboagye, has beaten two other aspirants in a keenly contested election on Saturday, to be the National Democratic Congress’ Parliamentary candidate for the Ahanta West Constituency in the 2012 General elections.
In an election that was nearly marred by officials of the Electoral Commission, Mr. Aboagye won with 163 votes, whilst Mr. Sam Pee Yalley, a Public Interest Lawyer and a leading member of the NDC polled 155 votes.
Mr. Joseph Nelson, Western Regional Coordinator of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), and the youngest of the aspirants, also polled 153 votes. Only five ballots of the 475 votes cast were rejected.
Hundreds of delegates and supporters, who thronged the Baidoe Bonsu Senior High School Hall at Agona Nkwanta in support of Mr. Aboagye, could not hide their joys as they splashed powder haphazardly and danced to victorious tunes.
Some supporters of both defeated candidates could not hold back their tears.
Mr. Joseph Nelson, who had been tipped to win the poll because he was considered a “grassroots person”, conceded defeat and pledged his unflinching support to the winner to ensure that the party captures the seat for the NDC.
Mr. Sam Pee Yalley also accepted defeat and pledged his fullest support to the winner’s campaign in 2011. He however accused the constituency executives of incompetence due to the manner in which the election was conducted, saying it dented the credibility of the polls.
He said the situation where voting had to be stopped because serious errors were detected with the EC’s own ballot papers and thereby raising suspicions that there was an attempt to rig the poll for a particular candidate, was not the best.
The situation, which angered several delegates led to disagreements delaying the elections for close to an hour. Voting restarted after a decision had been taken to use the party’s own ballot papers which the EC official had earlier claimed did not have serial numbers and thus could not be used.
In his victory speech, Mr. George Kwame Aboagye said the election was competitive saying it was a show of democratic practice within the NDC. He congratulated his contenders for polling substantial votes and noted that it was a victory for the National Democratic Congress.
Mr. George Aboagye urged his contenders and their supporters to join the campaign to unseat the New Patriotic Party’s incumbent MP Hon Samuel Jonfia, who has been the MP for three terms.
The GIPC Boss said the Ahanta West area lags behind in development, promising to improve electricity supply particularly in rural areas, the quality of education as well as see to the provision of good roads.
The primaries took place in eight other constituencies in the Western Region, namely Takoradi, Essikadu-Ketan, Sekondi, Effia-Kwesimintsim, Jomoro, Tarkwa-Nsuem, Evalue Gwira and Bibiani Ahwiaso-Bekwai.
In Sekondi, the MCE, Anthony Cudjoe (rtd) emerged winner in a contest of three. Also in Tarkwa-Nsuem, the MCE Madam Christina Cobbinah beat Stephen Antwi to win.
At Essikadu-Ketan, Thomas Charles Brown beat Victor Abbey-Hart to win, whilst Francis Apuri, an Assemblyman beat the STMA Presiding Member Mahmoud Ali and another contestant to emerge winner for Effia-Kwesimintsim.
Albert Ekow Gyan beat three others in Takoradi to emerge the NDC’s Candidate for 2012, whilst Mr. Moses Kofi Armah, a former DCE for Bibiani Awhiaso-Bekwai was elected winner.
At Evalue Gwira, Mr. Kwaku Tanikyi Kesse won in a contest of two to face the NPP’s Catherine Afeku in 2012.
Wing Commander Francis Kabenla Annan would be contesting the CPP’s Samia Nkrumah for the Jomoro seat after emerging as the NDC’s Candidate.
Primaries in Mpohor Wassa East and Amenfi East are however on hold until further notice.