In the early hours of Saturday, the main opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC) put behind them preliminary issues of the election and went to the polls to elect their parliamentary candidates and the flag bearer of the party.
As expected, there were some hot spots that were the focal point of this election. However, in spite of the back and forth, the elections were largely successful.
Voting ended at 4 o’clock in he evening with party faithfuls glued to the counting tables. Some constituencies finished counting and results declared.
Zooming in to one of the keenly contested constituencies is the Ningo Prampram constituency, where commentators said it’s a battle of pro LGBTQ+ supporters and anti-LGBTQ campaigners – being championed by Hon. Sam George. According to some delegates, “The number of people who want Sam George to lose is more than two cups of gari, and most of them are LGBTQ+”.
However, Sam George had the last laugh when preliminary results indicated that he won with just 7 votes margin.
Into the voting, tensions were high at the Ningo-Prampram constituency as some delegates insisted that voting should halt pending issues surrounding the voting process.
Some 16 delegates from the camp of candidate, Michael Kwetey Tetteh whose names were not originally in the list of eligible voters secured a court order to vote.
The court order which allowed for these executives to vote according to these delegates, was reportedly being contested by members of Sam George’s camp whose argument was that they were originally not part of the list.
This sparked confusion among these delegates with those from Michael’s camp insisting that the voting process will not proceed without the allowance for these 16 persons to vote.
This misunderstanding didn’t seem to affect the process. It is however, unknown if Michael will take legal actions to challenge the validity of the outcome of the elections at Prampram.
Akuapem North Constituency
At Akuapem North Constituency, a strange story unfolded as one of the two leading candidates surprisingly fell ill on the day of the elections.
Kofi Agyei Asante who had been tipped to unseat the incumbent John Evans couldn’t turn up at the voting centre due to health reasons.
Kofi Agyei who was hale and hearty on Friday, May 12, 2023 had to be rushed to the Mampong Orthopedic Hospital in the morning of Saturday, 13 May 2023.
The unfortunate situation meant that Kofi Agyei could not show up at the voting center to cast his vote and monitor the process.
Moreover, Francis Ackatia Kwaidoo who is contesting in the Jomoro NDC Parliamentary Primaries, has threatened to sue the party.
Voting came to a close in the Jomoro Constituency of the Western Region at 1:25 pm. The voting which started at around 9 am was officially to be closed at 4 pm per the NDC’s guidelines.
The Electoral Commission called the two aspirants to agree so that the counting of the ballot papers can be done but Francis Ackatia Kwaidoo insisted that they wait till 4 pm. He thus threatened the Electoral Commission and the Jomoro NDC Constituency Electoral Committee that if they go ahead to count the ballot papers before the stipulated time, he would sue the party.
A Woman Collapses At Asawase Constituency
At Asawase, one person, collapsed during a heated clash between supporters of the incumbent Member of Parliament for Asawase Constituency, Muntaka Mubarak, and his competitor, Muntaka Masawudu.
The clash heightened during the arrival of Muntaka Mubarak, which witnessed series of dramatic scenes including mobbing, hooting, and the pelting of stones.
Amid the clash, two people sustained injuries from stones pelted at them, while a woman also collapsed.
The unidentified lady, believed to be a supporter of Muntaka Masawudu, was rushed to the Manhyia hospital. She was seen lying flat on the ground.
Meanwhile, at Tano, Charles Asiedu, son of National Democratic Congress Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has won the Tano Parliamentary seat.
Charles Asiedu who is the immediate past Organiser in Brong Ahafo Region for the NDC polled a total of 698 votes with his close contender, Nana Agyeman Prempeh, retaining 281 votes. David and Osman the other two contenders polled 189 and 109 votes respectively.
These results were collated from 3 polling stations set up in the Tano South Constituency, Joynews reports. The two-term branch organizer was facing four others in the constituency for the seat. With his win, he replaces Dr. Hanna Bissiw as parliamentary candidate in the area.
Meanwhile voting has ended in most constituencies across the country with sorting of votes currently being done by officials of the Electoral Commission.
In the Presidential race, John Dramani Mahama is highly tipped to see off competition from former Kumasi Mayor, Kojo Bonsu to lead the party in the 2024 elections.
The parliamentary race Is where expectations of major shocks are rife, with some known constituencies being contested by quite popular and astute persons.
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