Near confusion at Ashaiman NDC primaries

Confusion nearly marred the National Democratic Congress (NDC) primaries held in Ashaiman on Saturday, as two delegates were prevented from voting, because they were not democratically elected to represent their electorate.

A faction loyal to one of the candidates vowed never to allow the elections to continue, if their delegates were not allowed to vote, thus creating tension, which took almost an hour before security personnel brought the situation under control.

In the midst of the confusion, party executives present went into consultations with the aggrieved faction together with the three parliamentary candidates; the incumbent MP Mr Alfred Kwame Agbesi, Mr Ibrahim Baidoo and Mr Tony Afenyo.

Sanity prevailed after the candidates and the aggrieved faction finally agreed to allow all those whose names were on the list to cast their votes to avoid chaos.

Voting then resumed under tight security in a tensed atmosphere and Mr Agbesi, a lawyer, retained his seat with 96 votes to beat Mr Baidoo, a 37 year old businessman and Mr Afenyo, 38, Educationist, who polled 27 and 19 votes respectively.

142, out of the total 146 delegates cast their votes, while four were absent.

Security was beefed up when Mr Micheal Boadu, Tema Metropolitan Electoral Officer started counting the ballot papers.

Information gathered indicated that Mr Ibrahim Issah and Mr Saviour Atsu, members of the Nii Man electoral area were not elected at their meeting as delegates to enable them vote at the primaries, but their names managed to appear on the list of the 146 delegates.

Party executives present were Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, Mr Jerry Acquaye Thompson, Greater Accra Regional organizer, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, MP for Kpone/ Katamanso and Alhaji Issifu Braimah, constituency chairman.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Agbesi expressed his gratitude to the party faithful for the confidence reposed in him and promised to continue working hard to accelerate development in the constituency.

Alhaji Yahaya urged members to rally behind the MP and intensify their campaign to win more members into their fold to retain the seat for the NDC.

Source: GNA