NPP Parliamentary Primaries: All you need to know ahead of Saturday's vote

Written by Justin Tusoe

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) will on Saturday, January 27, hold primaries for candidates seeking to represent the party in constituencies with sitting Members of Parliament.

The party, on December 2, 2023, elected parliamentary candidates in constituencies where it does not have sitting MPs, known as “orphan” constituencies.

Despite having a commanding majority of 169 seats in parliament in 2016, the party saw its fortunes plummet in 2020, losing 32 seats, reducing its MPs to 137 and tying with the opposition National Democratic Candidate (NDC).

The development ushered in Ghana’s eighth parliament which which became the country’s first ever hung parliament. The hung parliament, resulting from the 2020 elections, has made decision-making particularly the approval of budgets and key government deals difficult for the ruling party.

Thus, ahead of the 2024 election,  the NPP is poised to elect candidates who can help the party regain majority in parliament. In an attempt to put their best foot forward, the party released a set of rules banning Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), constituency chairmen and secretaries from contesting incumbent MPs. In order to contest, they are required to resign from their previous posts. This is to prevent the usual internal wrangling and sabotage of sitting MPs which leads to losses in the subsequent general elections.

As we wait to measure the success of the process and countdown to this crucial vote on Saturday , let’s take a look at some of the key issues at stake:

Injunctions

The election will not occur in six constituencies where sitting New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament hold office.

This decision comes as a result of court injunctions and other issues brought to the attention of the national leadership of the party.

The affected constituencies include Mampong and Fomena in Ashanti, Binduri in the Upper East, Agona West in the Central Region, Akwapim South in the Eastern Region, and Sunyani East in the Bono Region.

Statistics

Out of  376 aspirants who underwent vetting to contest the primaries, 322 have been approved by the party to contest for the January 27 primaries.

17 aspirants were disqualified while one aspirant has injuncted the process in the Nhyiaeso Constituency. Also, 3 aspirants have withdrawn their candidacies.

Unopposed

Out of the 376 aspirants that were vetted, 33 of them are going unopposed. Those who are going unopposed are the MP for Ayawaso West Wuogon and First Deputy Majority Chief Whip, Lydia Seyram Alhassan; MP for Okaikoi Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah; MP for Damongo and Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor; MP for Lambussie, Dr Bright Yelviedong Baligi; MP for Nandom and Minister for the Interior, Ambrose Dery; MP for Assin South and Deputy Minister of Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, and MP for Upper Denkyira East, Dr Festus Awuah Kwofie.

The others are MP for Bosomtwe and Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum; MP for Abetifi and Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Bryan Yaw Acheampong; MP for New Juaben South and Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Michael Okyere Baafi; MP for Upper West Akyem and a Deputy Minister of Transport, Frederick Obeng Adom; MP for Ejisu and a Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr John Ampontuah Kumah; MP for Effiduasi, Dr Nana Ayres Afriyie; MP for Offinso South, Isaac Yaw Opoku; MP for Akrofuom, Alex Blankson; MP for Tano South, Dr Benjamin Yeboah Sekyere; MP for Dormaa East, Paul Apreku Twum-Barimah and MP for Sefwi Akontombra, Alex Tetteh Djornobuah.

The rest are MP for Tolon and Second Deputy Majority Chief Whip, Alhaji Iddrisu Habib; MP for Karaga and Deputy Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Mohammed Amin Adam; MP for Gushegu and Deputy Minister of Transport, Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli; MP for Tatale/Sanguli and Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways, Thomas Mbomba; MP for Techiman South and Deputy Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Martin Kwaku Adjei-Mensah Korsah.

Incumbents not seeking re-election

About 18 seasoned MPs, including prominent figures like Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, First Deputy Speaker Joe Osei Owusu, and flagbearer aspirant and MP for Assin Central Kennedy Agyapong, have announced their decision not to seek re-election in the upcoming 2024 polls.

Other MPs not seeking reelection are Atta Akyea (Abuakwa South), Joe Ghartey (Essikado Ketan), Dan Botwe (Okere), Kwasi Amoako-Atta (Atiwa West), Dr. Kwaku Afriyie (Sefwi Wiaso), Emmanuel Marfo (Oforikrom), Benito Owusu-Bio (Atwima Nwabiagya), Carlos Ahenkora (Tema West), Nana Kwasi Adjei Boateng (New Juabeng North), William Owuraku Aidoo (Afigya Kwabre South), Johnson Adu (Ahafo Ano South West), Francis Manu-Adabor (Ahafo Ano South-East), Suleman Sanid (Ahafo Ano North), Kojo Kum (Ahanta West), and Francisca Oteng (Kwabre East).

This development has sparked concerns and raised discussions about the attrition rate in Ghana’s parliament and the implications on the quality of parliamentary work in the next parliament.

Constituencies to watch

The election is expected to be keenly contested across the board, but some constituencies are battlegrounds ahead of the polls. These include Dome Kwabenya, Tano North, Bantama and Bekwai constituencies.

Dome Kwabenya: In the Dome Kwabenya constituency, incumbent MP and former Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection Sarah Adwoa Safo is facing a fierce contest from former High Commissioner to India Mike Oquaye Junior and Sheila Oppong Sakyi, a new entrant.

In the 2020 primaries, Adwoa Safo defeated Mike Oquaye with just 8 votes to become the NPP parliamentary candidate for the constituency.

However, her extended absence from Parliament, which nearly led to her impeachment, has created a vacuum that Mike Oquaye Junior has effectively capitalized on.

It will be determined on Saturday if Adwoa Safo's apology and return to the campaign will bolster her chances of getting on the ticket.

Tano North: In the Tano North constituency, incumbent MP and Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources Dr Freda Prempeh is being challenged economist and Spokesperson to the Vice President Dr Gideon Boako

Bekwai: In the Bekwai Constituency, four persons are battling it out to succeed the incumbent First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, who is not seeking re-election. They include COP George Alex Mensa (Rtd), Raphael Poku-Adusei, Henry Opoku-Ware and Kingsley Opoku Agyemang.

Bantama: In the Bantama Constituency, Incumbent MP and Minister of Housing Francis Asenso Boakye is been challenged by Ralp Agyapong, brother of Kennedy Agyapong.

Constituencies like Abuakwa South, Essikado Ketan, Okere, Atiwa West, Tema West, Assin Central and Suame are also of interest as we look forward to see who replaces the seasoned MPs who are bowing out after the eighth parliament.

Editing by Peter Agbesi Adivor