JJ's Girl Cleared For NDC Race

Daughter of former President Jerry John Rawlings, Dr Ezanetor Agyeman Rawlings, has been cleared to contest in the November 7 primaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Dr Ezanetor, who is seeking to become the parliamentary candidate for the NDC in the Klottey Korle constituency of the Greater Accra Region, had been accused of being a member of her mother's party, the National Democratic Party (NDP).

She was nearly disqualified on the allegation that she was not an active member of the party in the constituency where she had resided with her parents, both in government and out of power.

Ezanetor's membership of the NDC has been at the centre of discussions among party functionaries in the constituency from the very first day she made public her desire to contest the seat.

However, she explained that she has been a member of the party since the 1990s.

'I was part of the party when it started in 1992. The only issue is that I wasn't at the age where I could register as a member because I had not yet attained the voting age. I was present at all major campaigns during that time.

'…Actually I have pictures of me wearing NDC T-shirt during the 1990s…I will make it available,' she told Neat Fm yesterday.

She is in the race with the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Nii Armah Ashietey.

During the vetting of aspirants in the Greater Accra Region on Thursday, five aspirants—Leeford Nii Kpako Quarshie, the grandson of Tetteh Quarshie (in Klottey Korle), Tony Afenyo (Ashaiman), Michael Kwetey Tetteh (Ningo Prampram), Isaac Awuku (Domeabra Obom) and Opolu William Kwesi Ahamadzi (Amasaman)—were disqualified.

The vetting of two aspirants—Lawyer George Enu and Bill Heglo from the Tema West constituency—was put on hold over questionable documents.

Another candidate, Adam Abdul Nasser, who is contesting in the party's primaries in the Madina constituency, was not present for the vetting. The aspirant is facing an over $62,800 fraud case at an Accra Circuit Court.

A total of 108 aspirants are to be vetted in the two-day exercise, ahead of the November 7 primaries.