NPP Primaries: Aspirants Angry Over Inability To Pick Forms

Barely a week to the close of nominations, some parliamentary aspirants of the ruling New Patriotic Party in the Ashanti Region have been unable to pick nomination forms.

They say the frustrations they have encountered are a deliberate attempt by some party executives to eliminate them from the race.

The Afigya Sekyere East Constituency aspirant, Oheneba Gyamfi, for instance, laments the lack of positive feedback after several meetings and petitions submitted to the constituency office.

“We have been to the constituency office several times. I have met the Constituency Chairman several times but all these have not yielded any good fruits.”

John Darko who is hoping to unseat the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu in the Suame Constituency also spoke to Citi News and shared his plight.

“The Constituency Chairman at the time said they did not receive the form from the region and I confirmed from the region and Sam Payne said the forms were not given to the executives and that they remain with the region. I have not received any response from the region. I do not think what is going on is a decision from the National party. I believe that it is some people trying to take power by themselves to behave in the way they are doing.”

Francis Addai-Nimoh struggles to pick nomination forms

Last month, former Member of Parliament for Mampong Constituency, Francis Addai-Nimoh expressed his unhappiness over attempts to prevent him from purchasing nomination forms to contest in the NPP parliamentary primaries.

In a letter of appeal addressed to the party's Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako and copied to the NPP Regional Secretary, he said several attempts to get the forms had failed.

“I wish to appeal to be permitted to purchase a copy of the 2020 parliamentary primaries nomination forms at the Regional Secretariat. This appeal has become necessary because I am being denied access and obstructed to purchase the said forms at the Mampong Constituency Level of the party,” portions of his appeal letter said. Albert Kan Dapaah Jnr. struggles to pick nomination forms

Also, supporters of Albert Kan Dapaah Jnr, a parliamentary aspirant seeking to contest in the Party's upcoming primary in the Ablekuma West Constituency, were stranded at the party's constituency office on 27th January, 2020 when they tried to pick up nomination forms for their preferred candidate. This was because the constituency chairman was not around.

The supporters claimed that the absence of the constituency chairman was part of a scheme to ensure that the incumbent Member of Parliament for the area, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, goes unopposed in the upcoming primary.

A non-refundable nomination fee for aspirants has been pegged at GHc20,000 whilst the filing fee is GHc200,000.

The party will also be electing the remaining Parliamentary candidates on same day.

—citinewsroom