NPP Primaries: Joseph Apor Adjei disqualified from contesting Ellembelle seat

A business mogul, Joseph Apor Adjei popularly known as ‘Boin’, has been disqualified from contesting the Ellembelle NPP parliamentary primaries by the National Parliamentary Vetting Committee (NPVC) of the party without any tangible reason.

The NPP parliamentary primaries is slated for Saturday, September 28, 2019 in all of its Constituencies in the country.

Since 1992, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has not won the Ellembelle parliamentary seat. The seat is currently occupied by the NDC's MP, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah

The current District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ellembelle, Kwasi Bonzoh has been running unopposed for the NPP since 2012 but this time around, he is facing tight competition.

All four aspirants who picked forms were subsequently vetted in Takoradi. The aspirants were; Kwasi Bonzoh (Ellembelle DCE), Ann Horma Akaisi Meizy (NPP Western Regional Treasurer), Isaac Menlah and Joseph Apor Adjei (business mogul).

In a statement issued and signed by the Director of Research and Elections for the NPP, Evans Nimako wrote,

"Please, inform the following prospective parliamentary aspirants that the National Parliamentary Vetting Committees (NPVCs) have recommended them to National Executive Committee to be cleared to contest the primaries".

And in the statement, only three Aspirants were cleared to contest in Ellembelle Constituency without the business mogul Joseph Apor Adjei.

According to Evans Nimako, "Unsuccessful aspirants whose names are not published may petition the National Parliamentary Appeals Committee (NPAC) for consideration".

In line with this, Joseph Apor Adjei have petitioned the National Parliamentary Appeals Committee.

Speaking to the business mogul Joseph Apor Adjei on his disqualification, he said that he finds his disqualification ‘very strange’. He also confirmed petition to the National Parliamentary Appeals Committee for reconsideration.

He also said two hundred delegates from Ellembelle had also petitioned the Committee to allow him to contest in the primaries.

Mr. Apor Adjei disclosed that the National Parliamentary Vetting Committee had failed to explain to him why he was disqualified.

Commenting on the speculation that he was threatening to sue the party, the disqualified aspirant said he has not dreamt of going to court and added that he would never take the party to court if the National Parliamentary Appeals Committee disqualified him totally.

Joseph Apor Adjei added that he will accept the finally decision made by the Committee if he is totally disqualified. He reiterated that, he is not desperate for power.

However, unconfirmed report received by this Reporter, indicates that this aspirant was disqualified on two grounds thus; non-party member and presentation of fake ID card to the vetting Committee.

According to an insider who was present during his vetting, the Vetting Committee asked him whether he was an NPP member or not, he said he was an NPP member but not an active member.

The National Parliamentary Appeals Committee would submit its findings to the National Executive Committee on 12th September, 2019.

Meanwhile, the disqualified aspirant (Joseph Apor Adjei) has built an ultra-modern office complex for the party in Ellembelle as his contribution towards elections 2020.

Before his disqualification, the business mogul had vowed to win the upcoming parliamentary primaries.

He still maintains that if is cleared by the party, he would go ahead to win the Ellembelle parliamentary seat in 2020 for the party.