5 Sitting MPs Fall In Gt. Accra NDC Primaries

Nii Amasa Namoale - Dadekotopon MP

Five sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Greater Accra Region last Saturday lost their bids to contest the 2012 parliamentary election on the party’s ticket during the NDC’s constituency primaries in the Greater Accra Region Saturday.

They are outgoing Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports and MP for Ledzekuku, Mr Reuben Nii Nortey Duah; a former Minister of Education and MP for Ada, Mr Alexander Tettey-Enyo; the MP for Sege, Mr Alfred W. Ogbodzor Abayateye; the MP for Odododiodoo, Mr Jonathan Nii Tackie Komme, and the MP for Adenta, Mr Kojo Adu-Asare.

A Minister of State at the Presidency and MP for Kpone-Katamanso, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, and the MP for Obom/Domeabra, Mr Daoud Anum Yemoh, were elected unopposed.

The remaining 11 NDC MPs in the region were able to beat their competitors to secure the nod by delegates to seek re-election.

Two women were among those who defeated the sitting MPs. They are Miss Ghana 1997, Mrs Benita Sena Okity-Duah (nee Golomeke), who beat Nii Nortey Duah at Ledzekuku, and Madam Comfort Doyeo Cudjoe Ghansah, who showed Mr Tettey-Enyo the exit.

The outgoing Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing who has been reassigned to the Ministry of Health and MP for Nadowli West in the Upper West Region, Mr Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, whose primary was postponed from January 22, 2012 to last Saturday ,was re-elected by popular acclamation, while Mr Gabriel Essilfie, the incumbent MP for Shama in the Western Region, was also elected unopposed.

In the Greater Accra Region, the primaries were generally peaceful, as enough policemen were assigned to the various polling centres.

At Ablekuma South, the sitting MP and Minister of Information designate, Mr Fritz Baffuor, was re-elected with a difference of 11. He had 241 votes, while his closest contender, Wisdom Nii Amoo, pulled 230 votes. The third contender, Mr Othniel Otokonor Kwainoe, secured just 78 of the votes cast.

At Odododiodoo, which had been described as a political hotbed, Mr Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuije secured an overwhelming 389 votes, representing 83.1 per cent of the votes cast, to beat the incumbent MP, Mr Komme, who had 71 votes, representing 15.2 per cent of the votes cast. Mr Walid Anyertei Laryea had just eight votes, representing 1.7 per cent.

In conceding defeat, Mr Komme commended the people of the constituency for making him to set a record by being the first MP in the area to have served two terms and pledged to support the winner to ensure that the NDC retained the seat in the parliamentary election.

Responding, Nii Vanderpuije said Mr Komme would be part of his campaign because he had rich experience as a two-time MP, former youth organiser of the constituency and former assembly member.

As voting was going on at Odododiodoo, Mr Alfred Agbesi Woyome, the man at the centre of the controversial judgement debt payment, made an entry and as word went round about his presence, almost all the reporters, cameramen and others around jumped from their seats to catch a glimpse of him.

With their still and motion cameras, all the cameramen moved straight to the dais where Mr Woyome was exchanging pleasantries with the leading members of the NDC and the aspirants. For well over 10 minutes after Mr Woyome had sat down, some of the cameramen were still taking footage and pictures of him.

At Klottey Korle, the Greater Accra Regional Minister and incumbent MP, Nii Armah Ashietey, secured the mandate of the delegates with 277 votes. His challengers, Messrs Leeford Kpakpo Quarshie, Wakefield Wisdom Ackuoku and Frank Edmund Awuku, secured 27, 24 and 54 votes, respectively.

At Sege, Mr Abayateye had only 29 votes, which terminated his desire to contest the seat again. He was beaten by Mr Christian Otuteye Corlettey, who pulled 64 votes.

At Adenta, the defeat of Mr Adu-Asare, who secured only 17 votes, had been expected, as he had earlier announced his intention not to seek re-election before making a comeback. He was beaten by one of his constituency executives, Mr Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore, who had 70 votes.

In the Abokobi/Madina Constituency, the incumbent MP, Alhaji Amadu Sorogho, secured the mandate of the delegates when be beat the stiff challenge of two others, Rukaya Abubakari Alhassan and William Torgbey.

From Ayawaso East, Zainabu Issah reports that the incumbent MP, who is also the outgoing Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Dr Mustapha Ahmed, secured 263 votes out of the 469 votes cast to maintain his bid to contest the seat again.

He contested against Nazar Mahama Toure, Ahmed Mohammed Gedel and Haruna Rashid Ibrahim, who had 185, 30 and 18 votes, respectively.

Dr Mustapha thanked the delegates for their support and pledged to win the seat in the upcoming parliamentary election.

From La Dadekotopon, Dominic Moses Awiah reports that the incumbent MP, Nii Amasa Namoale, won the primary.

Out of 527 the votes cast, the MP, who is also a Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture in charge of Fisheries, polled 328, with his closest challenger, Rev Kelvin Tetteh Caternor, securing 114.

The other three aspirants — Dr Benjamen Odoi Yemoah, Samuel Sowah Oblejumah and Nii Armah Ashietey — obtained three, 27 and eight votes, respectively.

Even before the election results were disclosed, the four challengers were nowhere to be found, leaving only the MP with his supporters, who carried him shoulder high and hailed him with songs of praise.

In the Krowor Constituency, Nii Oakley Quaye Kumah, the incumbent MP, emerged winner with 152 votes, while Naa Momo, his closest opponent, had 120; George Mensah, seven, and William Ofori, three, reports Marian Ansah.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic after his victory, Nii Kumah said although he knew he had committed mistakes in the past, it was time for the community to work hand in hand with him.

Delegates in the Ashaiman Constituency gave the sitting MP, Alfred Agbesi, another chance to contest the seat when he had I00 votes to beat four challengers, reports Rose Hayford Darko

Ibrahim Baidoo had 63 votes; Tony Afenyo, 51; Abass Osabutey, 21; with Alhaji Sulemana getting no vote during the exercise which was held in a calm atmosphere at the Ashaiman Senior High School.

From the Ablekuma Central Constituency Alice Aryeetey reports that the incumbent MP, Mr Theophilus Tetteh Chaie, was re-elected by NDC delegates to represent the party in the upcoming parliamentary election.

Mr Chaie won the primary with 238 votes out of the 413 cast, with two ballot papers being rejected.

His closest contender was Alhaji Haruna, who had 165 votes, while Farouk Wayonka had three, Bashar A. Harsey, nine and Godslove Quartey, no vote.