30 aspirants cleared to contest in C/R
The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Vetting Committee, led by Deputy Information Minister Alhaji Baba Jamal, on Sunday, hit the ground in the Central Region and cleared 30 parliamentary aspirants for 11 seats with sitting Members of Parliament (MPs), to pave the way for the upcoming primaries slated for Saturday, The Chronicle has learnt.
Speaking to the paper, the Deputy Central Regional Treasurer of the NDC, Eric Esuah, said all the 30 aspirants were cleared by the vetting committee at a meeting held at the Regional Office on Sunday that set the tone for the fierce battle among the contenders.
At Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam, the youngest sitting parliamentarian in Ghana at present, Cassie Ato Baah Forson, is facing stiff opposition from Joseph Kwesi Arko-Koomson, with Mr. Mike Allen Hammah, Minister for Land and Natural Resources, going unopposed in his Efutu Constituency.
Another deadly battle to watch out for is the Abura Asebu Kwamankese constituency, where Anthony Christian Dadzie, the incumbent MP, is being challenged by the former DCE of the area, Aba Edusah, David Abakah Yawson, Ekow Joseph Andoh and Augustine Owusu Ansah.
Great attention would also be focused on both Mfantseman West and East, where Aquinas Tawiah Quansah, Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, and George Kuntu Blankson, Deputy Majority Whip, faces stiff resistance for his fourth time bid to the august house.
Tawiah Quansah is being challenged by Joseph Essuon, Ransford Chatman Vanni-Amoah, and Lovelace Arko Essiam. Supporters are watching the unfolding events with keen interest.
Political pundits in the region are watching events in Mfantseman East, where Kuntu Blankson is marshalling all arsenals at his disposal to shrug off his opponents, who are trying to torpedo his fourth attempt to Parliament. Those contesting him are Robert Quartey, Abeiku-Crentsil, and Frank Etrue Hayford.
In Gomoaland, Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, sitting MP for Gomoa East, has to work hard to ward off the threat posed by Jalaludeen E. Adam, Rachel Florence Appoh, and Jonamoah Moses Jehu-Appiah, to see him through.
In the Gomoa West, the sitting MP, Francis Kojo Arthur, has to overcome Ransford Agyei-Boamah, his only contender, to seal his second bid to parliament.
The struggle of who should lead Cape Coast on the ticket of the NDC continues unabated, as incumbent MP, Ebo Barton Odro, is being given a stiff challenge by Justice Kofi Boison and Ricketts Kweku Hagan, resulting in unpredictability of the winner of the race in the former colonial capital.
The temperature in the southwest of Cape Coast, that is Komenda-Edina -Eguafo -Abrem (KEEA), is heating up, as Dr. Joseph Samuel Annan, and veteran politician Dr. Ato Quarshie battle for gold at the Elmina beach to see who emerges to lead the residents of the newly-found gold-rich constituency.
However, before sunset on Saturday, political analysts, journalists, and party faithful would be eager to know the victor in the inland constituency of Atti Morkwa of the Central Region, where Deputy Minister of Education Mrs. Elizabeth Amoah-Tetteh is being hounded out by two young entrants.