NPP ends vetting

By the close of last Friday, the various vetting committees set up by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) across the 10 regions to vet its parliamentary aspirants, had brought proceedings to an end, except in a few constituencies where there are pending legal issues or outstanding petitions to be looked into.

The process however, did not go without issues, with pockets of incidents recorded at certain vetting centres.

From the Ashanti Region, I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr. reported that by press time Sunday evening, the party’s parliamentary aspirants would know their fate. Regional secretary, Sam Pyne said the aspirants would first be informed about how they fared in the vetting.

He pointed out that the party had not announced those who scaled through the vetting process and so the rumours going around that some aspirants had been disqualified, thereby creating some confusion in the party, should be disregarded.

Mr Pyne, who spoke on various radio networks across the region, said there was no iota of truth in those speculations, whiles urging aspirants to keep calm and hope for the best.

He expressed worry about the fact that some party faithful who visited some of the vetting centres in Kumasi hooted at certain aspirants.

Mr Sam Pyne lauded the various aspirants for respecting the party’s directive as they called their supporters to order to make the process peaceful.

In the Central region, the incumbent Members of Parliament (MPs) for Assin Central, Ken Agyepong; Effutu, Alex Afenyo Markin and Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem, Dr Nana Ato Arthur, went unopposed whiles in the Eastern Region, all were cleared, including former Joy FM ‘Super Morning Show’ host, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, who is contesting for the Ofoase-Ayirebi seat. Six aspirants in the region were returned unchallenged.

From the Brong-Ahafo Regional capital, Sunyani, Fred Tettey Alarti-Amoako reports that 89 aspirants in the various constituencies were successfully vetted.

The exercise, which started on Monday and ended on Wednesday, was held at three zones namely, Sunyani, Atebubu and Techiman.

The Regional Secretary, Alfred Ofori Annye, told DAILY GUIDE on Thursday that the vetting results would be released today.

According to him, three of the incumbent MPs in the region – Ignatius Baffour Awuah of Sunyani West; Siaka Stevens of Jaman North and Joseph Dahah of Asutifi North – went unopposed.

DAILY GUIDE’S checks indicated that 10 incumbent MPs are being challenged for their seats.

Some popular personalities who are contesting in the region include Joe Dankwa, former MP and DCE for Tain, contesting the Banda seat; Adu Gyan, former Regional Chairman, vying for the Kintampo South seat; Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Ekumfi, also staging a comeback to the Techiman North seat and George Yaw Boakye, former MP for Asunafo South.

Out of the 89 aspirants, only seven are women, representing about eight percent. The women aspirants are: Freda Prempeh, Tano North; Charity Akua Foriwaa Dwomor, Tain; Helena Awurisi and Bintu Farazana, all of Banda; Cecilia Gyan Amoah, Asutifi South; Jacklin Boatemaa Bonsu, Nkoranza South and Ruth Debrah, Techiman South.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ofori Annye has advised delegates to select competent candidates full of integrity, who will be able to campaign at the grassroots to maximize votes for the party’s presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo.