Thousands of New Patriotic Party delegates across the country are voting in the second phase of the party’s parliamentary primaries to elect candidates for some 168 constituencies.
The election, which started at 7:00 am Saturday and being conducted in constituencies where the NPP holds the parliamentary seats, is being contested by a total of 370 aspirants of which 87 per cent are male and 13 per cent female.
A total of 67 of the candidates are going unopposed; 55 males and 12 females.
Who are going unopposed?
AHAFO REGION
TANO SOUTH: Sekyere Benjamin Yeboah
Yeboah is currently the Deputy Regional Minister for Ahafo region. Benjamin Yeboah wrestled the seat from Hanna Liousa Bissiw who was the second NDC candidate to have won the seat since 1996. The Tano South seat has been won 4 out of 6 times by the NPP and is expected to be easily won by the NPP again come 2020.
TANO NORTH: Freda Prempeh
Freda is the deputy minister for Gender, Children and social protection. She was voted into parliament in 2012 as a minority and is poised to a third successful in a seat that is yet to be won by the NDC since 1996.
ASHANTI REGION
AFIGYA KWABRE SOUTH: William Owuraku Aidoo
The former national best cashew farmer, banker, senior superintendent at the Ghana Education service and once managing director of a construction firm is going for his second election having joined parliament in 2016. He had lost on a previous attempt during the 2012 primaries. William Aidoo is currently the deputy minister for Energy. The constituency was formed in 2004.
AFIGYA SEKYERE EAST: Mavis Nksansah-Boadu
The 31 year old, won the predominantly NPP seat by over 80% in the 2016 elections. The highest vote margin in the history of the Afigya Sekyere East sest.. She has inherited a seat that has maintained a seating MP for at least two consecutive times. Her predecessor had served on the seat for 2 consecutive times from 2004.
AHAFO ANO NORTH: Suleman Adamu Sanid
The VRA employee is one of four to have taken up the challenge of contesting for various seats in the 2016 elections. Currently occupies no ministerial position in government.
AHAFO ANO SOUTH EAST: Francis Manu-Adabor
Currently occupies no ministerial position. He is the first MP for the constituency, which was created in 2012.
AHAFO ANO SOUTH WEST: JOHNSON KWAKU ADU
He is one of three MP cited in a British High Commission report on Visa fraud in 2017. The British consulate described his offence as the most serious; he had used his diplomatic visa which his wife and Children had to secure visas and upon visiting the UK, left his wife and Child behind who couldn’t be traced.
ASOKWA: Patricia Appiagyei
Currently the Deputy Minister for Environment, Science and Technology. She was one time Deputy Minister of the Ashanti Region and the First female Mayor of Kumasi. The Asokwa constituency was created in 2004; with Maxwell Kofi Jumah for two consecutive elections.
ATWIMA MPONUA: Isaac Kwame Asiamah
Currently, the Minister for Youth and Sports. He has been MP for the Constituency since 2004.
ATWIMA NWABIAGYA SOUTH: Emmanuel Agyei Anhwere
According to the Odekro 2018 repoert, was one of 3 MP to have obeyed the house rules of consistently seeking permission when they absented themselves from the floor of parliament.
BEKWAI: JOSEPH OSEI-OWUSU
In 2008, Joseph Osei-Owusu popularly known as Joe Wise went Independent to contest then incumbent NPP MP Kofi Poku Adusai after he lost by a vote in the primaries. The one time constituency chair of Amansie East and DVLA Chief Executive at the time said he went independent to save the Bekwai seat. He won that seat by over 70% beating the sitting MP by some 56% of votes cast. He is currently the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
BOSOMTWE: Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum
An excellent Deputy Education Minister, who is believed to have a good understanding of the issues confronting the education sector. An educationist himself Dr. Adutwum is seen a media friendly minister and a better replacement for the substantive minister.
Dr. Adutuwm won the Bosomtwe seat by over 85% of votes in the last election; the best ever performance by the NPP ‘owned’ seat.
FOMENA: Philip Ofori Asante
Philip will become the first timer going unopposed on a seat occupied by an incumbent government MP. His predecessor is going independent to contest him. Philip will become the third consecutive new face to represent the party in three elections.
Philip is a board member of Omnibank; he was one time Head of Wholesale Banking at Merchant Bank now UMB and former Head of Corporate and Investment Banking at Stanbic Bank.
KWABRE EAST: Francisca Oteng Mensah
Was the youngest MP elected in the seventh parliament under the fourth republic. An NGO CenProG reported their survey in the region had her as the best performing MP in the Ashanti Region.
MENHYIA SOUTH: Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh
Minister of Education
NEW EDUBIASE: George Boahene Oduro
Is on record to have said he regretted becoming an MP.
OFFINSO NORTH: Ntim Augusitne Collins
Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development.
SUAME: Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu
Majority Leader
More soon
By 3news.com|Ghana