NPP Opens Nomination For Orphan Seats Today; Eugene Arhin, Kuranchie Others To Pick Forms
…Eugene Arhin, Ken Kuranchie, Jefferson Sackey, Dokua, Akosua Manu, Others To Pick Forms
Beginning today, Tuesday, July 11, 2023, members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) interested in representing the party in constituencies where it has no representation in the 8th Parliament will be picking forms to contest the party’s primaries for the 2024 parliamentary election.
The election, which promises to be keenly contested will be held from Saturday, September 23, 2023, to Saturday, December 2, 2023.
But ahead of what is predicted to be a very competitive election, some interesting names have popped up, as interested in vying for different constituencies as MP hopefuls.
Some of the notable names, The Anchor has gathered, are the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, for the Awutu Senya West constituency, his deputy, Jefferson Sackey, aspiring for the Ablekuma Central constituency, Akosua Manu of the National Youth Authority (NYA) for Adenta constituency, Managing Editor of the Daily Searchlight newspaper, Ken Agyei Kuranchie, and Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah-Adjei, a Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, for the Okaikoi North constituency in the Greater Accra Region, among others.
In the current Parliament, the governing party and its opponent, the National Democratic Congress, (NDC), have an equal number of 137 lawmakers apiece, with one Independent Member of Parliament (MP), representing the people of Fomena.
This means that, nominations will at least be opened for some 137 constituencies across the 16 regions and closed on Thursday August 10, 2023.
Eugene Arhin
The Director of Communications was publicly announced as eyeing the seat as far back as last year.
Mr. Arhin, who is said to be aggressively lobbying for developmental projects to the area due to his privileged position in government, had his political future known by his boss, President Akufo-Addo.
Speaking to the chiefs and people of Awutu Senya on Friday, September 2, 2022, the President noted: “As you know, one of your very own, the Director of Communications at the Presidency, has done a very good job in lobbying persistently for the road to be constructed just as he did for the Bawjiase-Kasoa road. And I assure you that it will be completed before 2024.”
“It is public knowledge that he has intentions of contesting on the ticket of the NPP in 2024. If he is successful in the NPP parliamentary primaries, Nananom, I am confident that he would do an excellent job as Member of Parliament for you and I appeal to all of you to support him, if and when that time comes.
“You can see for yourself what he is doing for Awutu Senya West. Indeed, it is evident and all of you can see that when the NPP is in power, Awutu Senya West develops,” President Akufo-Addo said, when he commissioned the APPEB Cylinder Manufacturing Company Ltd. at Chochoe in the constituency.
That seat is currently being occupied by an NDC MP and architect, Gisella Tetteh, younger sister of a former MP, Hannah Tetteh.
Jefferson
Mr. Arhin’s deputy, Jefferson Kwamina Sackey, has also announced his intention to contest the Ablekuma Central constituency seat currently occupied by another NDC MP, Dan Abdul-Latif.
Jefferson, has a rich media experience, starting from TV Africa and Joy FM to CNN and Deutsche Welle television as its West African correspondent, among others.
He is also the face and the voice behind all campaign commercials of the President, while in opposition, and also host of Nana’s Diary, a weekly TV show that looked into the achievements of the Kufuor-led NPP government and the campaign activities of Nana Akufo-Addo.
On governance and matters at the Presidency, Jefferson has been responsible for the media image of the President, defending government and explaining many government policies and programmes, through the Presidential Diary, a TV series telecast on selected television stations.
Then there is also Akosua Manu, the deputy chief executive officer (CEO) of the National Youth Authority, who has declared her plans to contest the Adenta constituency, snatched from the NPP by NDC’s Adamu Ramadan, brother of the Second Lady, Samira Bawumia, in 2020.
Mrs. Manu, who is married to the son of a former national chairman of the NPP, Peter MacManu, is determined to wrest the seat, which is a swing one, from the NDC next year.
In the Okaikwei North constituency, three names have popped up, including a deputy trade and industry minister, Nana Ama Asiamah-Adjei.
Ken Kuranchie
Mr. Ken Kuranchie is also set to pick form to contest the Okaikoi North seat again, after two times without success. He is expected to battle it out with Ama Dokua, the incumbent MP for the Akropong constituency in the Eastern Region. The seat is currently being occupied by NDC’s Theresa Lardi Awuni.
NPP’s general secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, in a statement issued last Wednesday, said the decision for the election was approved during the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Council meetings held on Monday, April 3, 2023.
Mr. Frimpong said the nominations will close on Thursday, August 10, 2023, and the election will be held from Saturday, September 23, 2023 to Saturday, December 2, 2023.
“Nomination forms could be obtained at a non-refundable application fee of GH¢3,000.00 in a bankers draft payable to the NPP national headquarters in Accra,” he added.
Mr. Frimpong indicated that, in the event that an aspiring parliamentary candidate was denied access to the nomination form at the constituency level, he or she may acquire it from the regional or national secretariat, through an appeal or download it from the party’s website, www.newpatrioticparty.org, at a fee.
“To successfully file a nomination, an aspiring parliamentary candidate must submit a non-refundable filing fee of GH¢35, 000 in a banker’s draft payable to the NPP national headquarters in Accra,” he added.
The NPP general secretary also said that, in order to promote increased representation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in higher political offices, such aspiring parliamentary candidates will enjoy a 50 per cent rebate of the filing fees.
“This means they will be required to pay a non-refundable filing fee of GH¢17, 500.00,” he added.
All payments must be made in a banker’s draft payable to the party, he said, adding that the party’s leadership has emphasized that no aspiring parliamentary candidate would be denied access to purchasing nomination forms.
He extended his gratitude for the party’s successful nomination process and encouraged eligible candidates to participate in the parliamentary primaries.
Source: Anchorghana.com
