All is set for the New Patriotic Party’s much anticipated Parliamentary primaries scheduled for today, January 27, 2024.
The elections is being held in over 104 constituencies where the party currently has incumbent Members of Parliament (MPs).
Some six (6) constituencies, however, will not partake in the elections. The excluded areas are Mampong and Fomena in the Ashanti Region; Binduri in Upper East Region; Agona West in the Central Region; Akwapim South in the Eastern Region; and Sunyani East in the Bono Region.
This decision arises from various challenges, such as court injunctions and internal issues that have been brought to the attention of the party’s national leadership.
In Fomena, for example, efforts are underway to address a visible rift as an independent candidate emerges from the party’s ranks, despite having a sitting MP.
Sunyani East is grappling with a High Court rejection of the constituency album, causing a halt in the election of constituency executives.
Meanwhile, in Akwapim South, regional executives are engaging in ‘broader consultation’ following the withdrawal of the sitting MP, OB Amoah, from the race.
Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM on Thursday, January 25, Justin Kodua Frimpong, the General Secretary of the NPP, identified the affected constituencies.
He mentioned that he has not received official notification about a potential seventh constituency, the Upper Denkyira East, yet.
Despite these challenges, Kodua assured that the party is fully prepared for the primaries.
So far 321 candidates have been cleared to contest out of the total number of 373 aspirants who filed to contest the primaries.
29 of the cleared candidates are going unopposed, 11 were disqualified, two were referred to the National Executive Committee (NEC), two stepped down, one incomplete form and two did not show up for vetting leaving the qualified aspirants for the primaries at 321.
Ahead of the exercise, the party has announced that the Ghana Police Service will assume full responsibility for security arrangements during the polls.