Baba Jamal Storms NPP Primary

Mohammed Armed Baba Jamal
MOHAMMED AHMED Baba Jamal, the Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, stole the show at the New Patriotic Party (NPP) primary meant to elect executives of the party in the Akwatia Constituency.

Although Baba Jamal, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akwatia was not invited, he said he felt the need to turn up to express solidarity with the party and wish the delegates well.

Wearing NPP paraphernalia around his neck, he shook hands with the delegates and leading members of the party, including Dr Kofi Asare, who defeated him in the 2008 parliamentary election and Kinston Akomea Kissi, who defeated him in 2000 and 2004.

Baba Jamal, who won the seat on his fourth attempt, danced with members of the party to the amazement of the gathering.

In a brief speech, he called for unity, love and respect for the good of the nation.

Before leaving, he donated GHC500 to the constituency executives to support the primary.

Observers believe that with that gesture, politics at Akwatia would not be the same again, given the violence and curfew that characterized the 2008 elections.

In the elections, three executive members were elected unopposed.

They were the chairman, Baba Yakubu, popularly known as 'Baba Yenkro,' the Women's Organizer, Mercy Adu Gyamfi, popularly known as Ama Sey, and the Youth Organizer, Kwadwo Owusu.

The position of First Vice Chairman was won by Alhassan Dauda Dawara, who polled 463 votes to defeat his challenger, E.O Darkwa, who got 77 votes.

Four persons vied for the position of Second Vice Chairman, which was won by Kwadwo Ansong with 142 votes, followed by Kwesi Asabere with 139 votes, Grace Boatemaa, 110 votes and Kofi Adomako with 90 votes.

The Constituency Secretary, Eugene Opoku Acheampong, who retained his position, polled 389 votes to beat Stephen Marfo, who had 95 votes.

In the contest for assistant secretary, Stephen Agyei had 325 votes with Atta Gyimah securing 156 votes.

The position of organizer was won by Ebenezer Okyere, who secured 232 votes with the incumbent Ali Abubakar obtaining 144 votes and Kwame Gyekye, 108 votes.

In the contest for treasurer, Emmanuel Asihene had 176 votes followed by Bright Ntiamoah 159 votes, Eunice Appiah, 93 votes and Stephen Nyarko 55 votes.

Both Dr Asare and Mr. Kissi urged the polling station and constituency executives to embark on massive mobilization and organization to ensure that the party recaptures the seat in 2016.

William Ampem-Darko, a former Director General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), popularly known as Willy Pee, who represented the regional executive, sworn in the elected officers and asked them to make the necessary sacrifices to unseat the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2016.

GNA