8 Vie For Talensi Seat

Eight political parties have been cleared to contest in the Talensi constituency by-election slated for July 7, 2015.

Various parliamentary candidates are working around the clock to brighten their chances of winning the seat. The parties have balloted for positions on the ballot paper and have started educating the constituents on how to locate their parliamentary candidates on the ballot paper.

Joseph Toatoba of the Progressive People's Party (PPP) is at number 1, followed by Denis Atia Tambil of the Independent People's Party (IPP). New Vision Party (NVP), No. 3; Benson Tongo Baba of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), No. 4; Dr. Michael Wombengo of the People's National Convention (PNC), No. 5; Yaro Philip Bame-ezina of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), No. 6; United People's Party (UPP), No. 7 and Thomas Duanab Wuni of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), No. 8.

Independent interviews with some constituents by DAILY GUIDE revealed that the PNC candidate, Dr. Michael Wombengo, seemed to be enjoying great support as a person, even though the PNC is not popular in the area.

Throughout last week his campaign was concentrated at the western side of the constituency, where influential communities like Pwualugu, Winkongo and Shia are located.

Dr. Wombengo comes from the eastern side of the constituency and very likely to enjoy massive support from there, just like John Akologo Tia, who had stayed in parliament for over his 20 years.

The National Democratic Congress as a party is popular in the area, but the parliamentary candidate, Benson Tongo Baba aka BT Baba, though a native, is not enjoying the people's support.

There are indications that all is not well with the NDC, as some persons are seriously working to ensure that B.T. Baba loses, to prove to Joseph Akamba, Deputy National Organiser, that his desire does not matter in the Talensi NDC.

'Joseph Akamba says he can speak his mind and do what he wants anywhere and go scot free. He succeeded in getting B.T Baba to be the candidate; now let's see how Akamba will get the constituents to vote for B.T. Baba,' a worried NDC member said.

The NPP also has a strong presence in the constituency, but fatigue seems to be setting in and the party will have to up its game, if the desire to see Thomas Duanab Wuni in parliament should materialise.

The National Chairman of the NPP, Paul Afoko – whose brother is facing murder trial in court and comes from the region – and the General Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong, are nowhere to be found.

On Thursday, June 25, the NPP had a public meeting with some constituents at the Tongo Town Park after a 2^nd Division match, in the absence of the candidate.

Some PPP national executives, including the national chairman, Dr. Brew Hammond and the operations director, Nana Ofori, were in the Talensi constituency yesterday to join the campaign.

The presence of other political parties like the Akpaloo's IPP, Prophet Nkansah's NVP, Odike's UPP and Akua Donkor's GFP, are yet to be felt in the area.

From: Ebo Bruce-Quansah, Tongo