NPP PARLIAMENTARY ASPIRANT BATTLE IN NEW JUABENG

BECAUSE OF the widespread belief that the New Juaben constituency is a sort of 'World Bank' for the New Patriotic Party [NPP] and a solidly consolidated area for the party, all sorts of party big wigs are now showing their faces to struggle for the parliamentary seat of that constituency, come 2008 general elections.

Information reaching The Chronicle has it that a new entrant called Mr. Amponsem, has surfaced with much interest in contesting for the MP's seat, currently occupied by Mr. Yaw Barimah.

Investigations revealed that the surfacing of Mr. Amponsem and others who are yet to be identified by this paper as new entrants into the parliamentary race, has began shaking the NPP in Koforidua as some of the delegates who will cast their votes on the day of the parliamentary primary have started weighing the aspirants.

While some of the delegates have almost shifted camp from the incumbent to the side of the new entrant, others remain on the side of the incumbent, Mr. Barimah.

Some of the delegates have started what could be described as 'submarine' campaigns with the new entrant, helping him to sell his vision to the electorate.

However, those in the camp of the incumbent MP have also been going round to ensure that his support remains intact.

The paper learnt that, as the new entrant keeps struggling to win at least 50 percent plus one of the entire delegates to his side to enable him defeat the incumbent MP in the parliamentary primary, the incumbent is also well in touch with almost 62 percent of the entire delegates who met and discussed the welfare of the party in the constituency.

Looking at the chances of the incumbent and the new entrant, it could be observed that the incumbent has a big edge over the new entrant, having convinced about 71 percent of the delegates and the residents in the constituency and with his good works, it is likely they will retain the incumbent MP come 2008.

Mr. Barimah has collaborated so much with the MP for New Juaben North, Mr. Hackman Owusu Agyeman, the New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive (NJMCE), Nana Akwasi Adjei Boateng, religious leaders, traditional authorities, party executives, unions and traders associations to raise the standard of living in the constituency and has managed to extend electricity, treated pipe borne water and telecommunication services to areas in the constituency where they lacked these facilities.

Additionally, he has constructed classroom blocks to replace dilapidated ones, reconstructed unmotorable roads as well as putting up toilet facilities at vantage points within the constituency.

The youth and some market women who have benefited a lot from the Youth Employment Programme and financial assistance programmes do not want to bring the incumbent down at all but rather keep projecting him every now and then.

He received a lot of cheers when he took the salute at this year's 50th independence anniversary parade at the Golden Jubilee Park near the Eastern Regional Police Headquarters at Koforidua.

Just after that wonderful performance, rumours started to do the rounds that Mr. Barimah was no more going to run for the parliamentary primary next year.

A close source to the incumbent MP, who doubles as the Eastern Regional Minister, has denied that the MP was not going to contest in the next parliamentary primary of the NPP.

“For now you cannot rule him out and cannot also say that he is not going to contest but when the time comes, we shall hear from him,” the source told The Chronicle.