Delegates prefer working with people they know - Ben Ephson

Editor of the Daily Dispatch, Mr. Ben Ephson has attributed Mrs. Zita Okaikoi's loss in the Dome-Kwabenya NDC primaries to problems she had with her constituency chairman.

"With regards to Zita at Dome-Kwabenya, even from the time she was minister of information down to tourism, she's been having problems with her constituency chairman...and if even you are not having problems with your constituency chairman, it means that you have been far removed..."

Speaking on the NDC primaries held over the weekend on the Big Bite on Xfm 95.1, Mr. Ephson stressed that results of the NDC primaries has shown that delegates preferred working with people they have known for some time instead of new ones.

He said quiet a number of the results showed that the delegates stayed with people they have known as against the newly appointed DCEs.

Mr. Ben Ephson stressed that in some places, DCEs who had been relieved of their duties had won against newly appointed ones; a situation Mr. Ephson believes is evidence of the deleagtes' preference.

"A number of the results point to one thing and that is the delgates stayed with those they know. In some places in the eastern region for example, DCEs who had been dismissed won against the newly appointed DCEs and it is not surprising. The Mils government is almost three years old so if a DCE has been dismissed that means he has spent about a year and a half or two years in office so the delegates will feel more comfortable electing somebody they've worked with for two years than a new person..."

Mr. Ephson intimated that the era where DCEs won elections based on patronage was over since delegates in recent times will not vote for non performing DCE regardless of what items he or she gives delegates prior to an election.

He stressed that he was sure the NDC will open up its electoral college if after assessing the primaries, they realize that money had an over bearing influence on the primaries.

Story by Vincent Baffour Acheampong/ Xfm 95.1/ Accra/ Ghana