By Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency in the Greater Accra region, and First Deputy Majority Chief Whip, Madam Lydia Seyram Alhassan, is among the 29 New Patriotic Party (NPP) sitting Members of Parliament who have been cleared by party’s elections committee to go unopposed during the January 27, 2024 parliamentary primaries in Constituencies with Sitting MPs.
Madam Seyram Alhassan’s only contender was disqualified during the vetting process thus making the First Deputy Majority Chief Whip the sole candidate for the NPP to battle it out with the National Democratic Congress candidate among others for the Ayawaso West Wuogon seat come 7th December 2024 general polls.
The MP for Damongo Constituency in Savanna region who doubles as the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Samuel Abu Jinapor, Tolon MP and Second Deputy Majority Chief Whip, Alhaji Iddrisu Habib has also been cleared to go unopposed
The rest who are going unopposed include the MP for Karaga and Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, MP for Abetifi and Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Bryan Yaw Acheampong, MP for Okaikoi Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah; 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, MP for Upper Denkyira East, Dr Festus Awuah Kwofie, MP for Bosomtwe and Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum; 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, and, MP for Offinso South, Isaac Yaw Opoku.
The others are MP for Akrofuom, Alex Blankson; MP for Tano South, Dr Benjamin Yeboah Sekyere; MP for Dormaa East, Paul Apreku Twum-Barimah, MP for Sefwi Akontombra, Alex Tetteh Djornobuah, 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.
The NPP will go to the polls on January 27, 2024, to elect its parliamentary candidates in constituencies where the party has sitting Members of Parliament (MPs).
According to the party at the close of nominations and filling, a total of 373 aspirants filed to contest the primaries, after vetting, 29 out of the number are going unopposed, while 11 were disqualified, two were referred to the National Executive Committee (NEC), two aspirants stepped down, one aspirant failed to complete the nomination form and two persons did not show up for vetting leaving the qualified aspirants for the primaries to stand at 326.