NPP primaries: four files nomination to contest Takoradi seat

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By
Seth Danquah, GNA

Takoradi, Feb. 24,
GNA – Four people filed their nominations to contest the Takoradi Constituency
seat of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on April 25, 2020.

The four include the
incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah who doubles
as the Western Regional Minister and seeking to retain the seat for the fourth
time.

The others are Mr.
Frederick Kakraba Sam, a businessman based in the UK, Mr. Frank Oduro, Freight
Forwarder at the Tema Port and Madam Edna Nyame, Acting Head of Library at the
Takoradi Technical University (TTU).

Mr. Darko-Mensah who
was the last to file his nomination was accompanied by hundreds of Party
stalwarts clad in all white apparel and Party paraphernalia.

The MP who has built
an office complex for the Party, urged the delegates to vote for true Party
faithfuls who have support at all levels and stood by the Party during
opposition struggles.

Though the incumbent
MP who was a Deputy Minister for Aviation before his appointment as the
Regional Minister has occupied the seat for three times and has the support of
the Party elders in the Constituency, his closest contender, Mr. Kakraba is
known to be tactical and a “grassroot boy” who is believed to have
the backings of some National Executives.

The Takoradi
Constituency is one of the domineering and secured seats for the NPP in the
Western Region and has always been falling for the NPP since its creation.

However, the
candidate who wins the primaries will have to work extra hard to garner more
votes since the Presidential candidate has been getting more votes than the parliamentary
candidate.

For instance, in the
2008 elections, the parliamentary candidate had 22,704 (58.9%) while Nana Addo
had 23,349 (62.35%) and 24,461 (62.96%) in the run-off.

In the 2012 general
elections, the presidential candidate garnered 25,760 (60.55%) while the
parliamentary candidate had 25,958 (61.04%) being the only time the
parliamentary candidate’s votes went up over the presidential candidate.

Meanwhile, in the
2016 general elections, the presidential candidate had 27,350 (69.80%) with
that of the parliamentary candidate as 27,169 (69.42%).

This is expected to
go further down, due to the fact that many people have relocated from the
Constituency. For instance, about 60 percent of the electorates at the
Essikafo-Ambantem No. 2 electoral area in the Constituency have moved outside
the Constituency.

GNA