Some members of the NPP at the congress
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the
Volta Region has cleared 43 aspirants to contest the party’s primaries to
represent their constituencies (orphan ones) on the ticket of the party.
The NPP has set September 28, 2019,
as date on which to hold elections in ‘orphan constituencies’ (Constituencies
without NPP sitting MPs).
The 43 who will be contesting in all
18 constituencies in the region where not a single constituency is represented
by an NPP MP, had five of them being females.
The second vice-chairman, Frederick
Fredua Anto, who made this known in Ho, said four out of the lot have also been
declared to contest unopposed by the vetting committee.
They are; John Peter Amewu, Energy
Minister, for the Hohoe Constituency; Simon Peter Kofi Owusu, for Akatsi North;
Raybon Evans Anyadi for Adaklu; Prosper Pi-Bansah for the Ho Central.
He noted that although the vetting
committee had no capacity to disqualify any aspirant at this level, the
aspirants have up to August 17, 2019 to be declared legitimate to contest, from
the National Vetting Committee.
Considering the date slated for the
primaries, all parties will have the opportunity to contest adverse findings.
Mr. Anto reminded the aspirants that
per Article 12 of the Party’s Constitution, aspirants for such positions must
be active members for at least two years in good standing, owe no allegiance to
another country and have honoured their tax and other statutory obligations.
He observed that majority of the
aspirants were Municipal and District Chief Executives who have for the past
two and half years become the face of the party and government on the ground
and a liaison between government and the people. They have done tremendously
well to facilitate development for both residents and party members.
Mr. Anto however said that when the
time for primaries in constituencies with Members of Parliament was ready,
MMDCEs interested to contest such seats would have to resign their positions to
be able to contest.
He was hopeful that the Party will be
able to annex four parliamentary seats in the 18 constituencies of the Volta Region.
More so, they are targeting a minimum of 40% of the votes in the region which
is the stronghold of the opposition NDC.
According to him, the countless
initiatives of government in improving the lives of the people were enough to
win the hearts of the people.
Meanwhile, the NDC in the region has
also cleared 60 aspirants to contest their primaries on August 24, 2019. They
are optimistic of retaining all the 18 seats with majority of the votes in the
region.
Other political parties are yet to outline their activities ahead of the 2020 elections.
From Fred Duodu, Ho (k.duodu@yahoo.com)
