Ashanti Regional Office of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), is charged with a heavy atmosphere of police deployment, as persons aspiring to be the party’s parliamentary candidate for the 2024 election in the Asawase constituency, take their turn in the ongoing vetting process.
The incumbent Member of Parliament for Asawase, Muntaka Mubarak, and his contender, Masawudu Mubarick, successfully went through with the vetting process and were given their numbers on the yet-to-be-printed ballot for the primaries.
Supporters of both aspirants thronged the vetting centre, amidst chants in a contest that is attracting a lot of attention in the region.
The incumbent, Muntaka Mubarak after the vetting, told journalists the support he received from the party supporters during and after the vetting, is a sign of an endorsement of his retention as the MP for the area.
“You don’t get people to continue to support you after two decades of being a Member of Parliament. And for people to continue to support me after two decades, then it means there is something that I am doing right. And I only thank Allah for all that he has done for me and I know Allah is not yet done with me.”
Muntaka Mubarak
However, supporters of Masawudu Mubarick, also sang “we need change”, when they entered the premises. Masawudu Mubarick asserts he is the right person to bring the change party supporters are yearning for, in the Asawase Constituency.
Ato Forson And Two Other Incumbent MPs Go Unopposed
Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and two other incumbent Members of Parliament (MPs) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), go unopposed in the Party’s upcoming Parliamentary constituency primaries in the Central Region.
Madam Gizella Akushika Tetteh-Agbotui (Awutu Senya West) and Mr. Daniel Ohene Darko (Upper Denkyira West), are the other two incumbent MPs going unopposed, aside Ato Forson.
Moreover, other MPs have cleared the stages of vetting, without being competed against for their seats in the same region. These are Madam Emelia Ankomah (Upper Denkira East) and Mr. Nurien Shaibu Migyimah (Assin Central constituencie). However, Madam Sawyer Queenstar Pokuah, incumbent MP for Agona East, stands a chance of contesting unopposed, if her contender Mr. Eric Turkson’s disqualification holds.
Out of the 56 aspirants who filed to contest the parliamentary primaries for 20 constituencies in the region, three were disqualified by the committee. The disqualified aspirants are Mr. Paul Ofori Amoah (Agona West) Mr. Ebenezer Quayson (Upper Denkyira West) and Mr. Eric Turkson (Agona East constituencies).
20 out of the 23 constituencies in the region took part in the vetting process, three were withheld based on reasons yet to be disclosed by the party. The withheld constituencies are Assin North, Efutu and Gomoa Central.
Mr. Joseph Yammin, the National Organizer of the NDC and the Chairman of the interim vetting committee, in an interview cautioned the aspirants to conduct campaigns devoid of insults, to avoid division and separation among the delegates, which could affect the general elections come 2024.
The chairman advised the aspirants to focus on winning both presidential and parliamentary seats for the party and not to fight themselves because the primaries are contested internally. Mr. Yammin informed the aspirants to ensure the vision of the regional executives, to win 20 seats in the region was accomplished.
Vetting Of Dumelo, Fred Nuamah And Moses Acheampong Suspended Indefinitely
In other news, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) reportedly suspended the vetting of all contestants in the Ayawaso West Wuogon parliamentary primaries, indefinitely.
According to sources, the parliamentary hopefuls for the constituency – John Dumelo, Fred Nuamah and Moses Barf Acheampong, did not appear before the vetting committee as of the second day of the vetting.
The reports indicate that the NDC claimed it will decide how to proceed with the primaries for the constituency, after the deadline for vetting elapses on April 5, 2023.
The parliamentary primaries for the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency has attracted interest after the decision of Fred Nuamah, an actor and film director, to challenge his close friend, whom he describes as his brother, former NDC parliamentary candidate for the constituency, John Dumelo.
Fred Nuamah insists that he had the blessing of John Dumelo to contest in the Ayawaso West Wuogon primaries because he (John Dumelo) told him that he would be gunning to become the party’s candidate for the expected Guan Constituency in the Oti Region.
However John Dumelo, having accused Fred Nuamah of betraying him, averred that he never gave his blessing to Fred to enable him (Fred) contest for the primaries.
Meanwhile, at least 37 candidates have been vetted for the parliamentary primaries in the Greater Accra Region, which is slated for May 14, 2023.
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