4 MPS RETURNED UNOPPOSED (PAGE 16)

STORY: KWAME ASIEDU MARFO & JULIET MARFO, TAKORADI

Four sitting New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MP) in the Western Region were returned unopposed at the end of nominations to contest the December general election.
The party received a total of 33 applications from 13 constituencies in the region. Those standing unopposed are Mr Joe Ghartey for Essikado-Ketan, Mr Christopher Addae for Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai, Mr Anthony Evans Amoah for Mpohor Wassa East and Mrs Eugenia Kusi for Tarkwa Nsuaem.
Others yet to be cleared are contestants for the NPP Effia-Kwesimintsim Constituency ticket, Mr Joe Baidoo Ansah, the incumbent; Mr John Eguan Sampson Davis, Mr Fred Adoko Williams and Nana Kofi Coomson, while those contesting for the Aowin Constituency are Edward Osei, Philomina Tsibo and Samuel Adu-Gyamfi, the incumbent, with Henrieta Mary Eyison competing with Samuel Jonfiah, the incumbent, for the Ahanta West constituency.
The Evalue Gwira Constituency is being contested by Katherine K. Afeku, Dorcas Elizabeth Amoah and Eric Ogbame Selby, while Lawrence Blay Ewoniah, Nana Yaw Oppong, Anastasia Wiredu Mensah, and the incumbent, Albert Kwaku Obbin, are vying for the Prestea Hunni Valley ticket.
For the Sekondi Constituency, the incumbent, Papa Owusu Ankomah; Kwaku Sam-Amoah and Gad Cobbina are the contestants, with the incumbent, Joseph Boahen Aidoo; Lawrence Kobina Ainoo and Isaac Kwame Ampong vying for the Amenfi East ticket.
Patrick Amoatin, David Okruw Aidoo, Janet Edna Nyame, Ellen Adwoa Sweetie Sowah and Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah are contesting for the Takoradi Constituency ticket, while the incumbent, Angelina Baiden-Amissah, and Samuel Ericson Abakah are contesting for the Shama Constituency ticket.
Results of the vetting will be submitted to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NPP to determine who qualifies for the primaries for the elections of the parliamentary candidates in the constituencies where there are NPP sitting MPs.
However, the NPP has completed the vetting of its parliamentary aspirants in the Western Region who are contesting as parliamentary candidates in constituencies where there are sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) of the party.
The National Organiser of the NPP, Mr Lord Commey, who led a 23-member vetting committee, briefed the press in Takoradi on the processes of electing the parliamentary candidates.
He stressed that it was the right of any member of the party to stand for election provided that person submit to the rules and regulations governing the election.
According to Mr Commey, the party determines the suitability of the candidate and that the decision of the NEC was final, stressing that “contesting on the ticket of the party is not a right but a privilege”.
“If you decide to contest on the ticket of the party you must submit yourself to the rules and regulations of the party,” he added, saying, “This is about managing the ambition of the people, which is very challenging.
“It is also in the general interest of the NPP and this overrides the individual interest,” he emphasised, adding that “that is why we have to be fair, free and firm”.
Mr Commey said at the end of the day, it was the general interest of the NPP that would reign supreme.
He said two research committees of the NPP had gone round the country to assess all sitting MPs of the party and stressed that all the sitting MPs would appear before the vetting committee.
The General Secretary of the NPP, Nana Ohene Ntow, pointed out that until an official acclamations were done, all sitting MPs who were retained unopposed could not declare themselves as NPP parliamentary candidates.
Also, he admitted that every political party had its own peculiar problems and urged the media not to over sensationalise such problems.