NPP warns aspirants against camping delegates

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has warned its aspiring parliamentary candidates to desist from camping delegates ahead of the parliamentary primary to be held across the country, today, June 13.

The Western Regional Secretary of the Party, Mr. Charles Bissue, told the Ghana News Agency, in Takoradi, on Thursday, that any parliamentary aspirant who would contravene the directive would be disqualified.

He also warned aspirants to desist from bringing stoutly-built men (macho men) to the venue of the elections to intimidate opponents because the Police had been tasked to maintain law and order at the designated venues.

He said 13,500 delegates were eligible to vote in the Region and they comprised constituency executives, polling station executives, constituency council of patrons, constituency council of elders and founding members of the party.

He stated that out of 26 constituencies in the Region, 10 would take participate in the primary (internal elections) on Saturday, while 13 are running unopposed.

The contest in three constituencies, however, has been postponed for strategic reasons, a part of the 28 constituencies, whose election has been fixed tentatively for June 27.

The 13 constituencies with unopposed candidates are Effia, Takoradi, Sekondi, Essikadu-Ketan, Mpohor, Bia East and Bia West, Bibiani/Anhwianso/Bekwai, Ellembelle, Bodi, Aowin, Amenfi West and Wassa East.

Mr. Bissue said 52 parliamentary candidates were eligible to contest in the internal elections made up of 48 males and four females.

He said Prestea Huni-Valley had the highest number of aspirants with eight candidates; followed by Amenfi East with six; Amenfi West with four; Jomoro with three; while the rest of the constituencies had two aspirants each.

The Kwesimintsim Constituency primary was postponed because the Appeals Committee of the Party had not completed investigation into one of the aspirants, Mr. Joe Mensah, who challenged his disqualification after the vetting.