General News of Wednesday, 19 December 2018

Source: kasapafmonline.com

NPP decides on Ayawaso West Wuogon seat today

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is expected to take a decision on the vacant Ayawaso West Wuogon Parliamentary seat on Wednesday December 19, 2018 following the death of its Member of Parliament, Emmanuel Kyeremateng Agyarko.

There has been pressure mounting on the National Executives of the party to allow particular candidates to stand as Parliamentary candidate in the upcoming by-elections.

Supporters of the two wives of the late MP about a fortnight ago massed up at the party headquarters demanding that their preferred choice be allowed to run on the party’s ticket.

However the second wife, Lydia Alhassan subsequently denied reports that she was interested in her late husband’s seat.

The General Secretary of the NPP, John Boadu in an interview has stated that the leadership will do what is right and in the interest of the party to ensure that it recaptures the seat., adding that they will not succumb to pressure irrespective of where it may be coming from.

“No amount of pressure from any quarters will push us to take a decision in one way or the other, if any group of persons want a particular candidate you quietly submit a petition to the party and not come to the party headquarters to threaten anyone. Placards will not sway the national executives in any way.

“On Wednesday, a National Executive Council meeting will be held to decide the way forward for the Ayawaso West Wougon constituency, thereafter, a schedule will be put together and we’ll make sure that we have a candidate and start our campaign to recapture the seat.”

Meanwhile, reports say the NPP is shopping for a consensus candidate to win the by-election to be conducted by the Electoral Commission (EC) in the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency.

Some retired bankers and Ato Williams, a former President of the Young Executive Forum of the party, have expressed interest in representing the NPP in the by-election.

Others are also considering Alan Kyerematen, Minister of Trade and Industry, who lives at Westland.