NPP primaries: vetting committee disqualifies two, approves 11 in Greater Accra 

The Greater Accra Regional vetting committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has disqualified two aspirants from contesting the party’s parliamentary primaries.

The two are Richard Hagan from Okaikoi South and Samuel Owusu Amankwah from Ayawaso West Wuogon.

Hagan was disqualified for late submission of his nomination forms while Amankwah was disqualified for not being a member in good standing.

However, 11 others from six constituencies in the region were approved by the committee after successfully meeting the party’s constitutional requirements.

They are Dakoa Newman from Okaikoi South, Dr Adomako Kissi (the incumbent MP for Anyaa Sowutuom) and his contender Elder Emmanuel Tobbin, Nana Boakye and Robert Richard Siapim from Tema West.

The incumbent MP for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, Michael Oquaye and Sheila Oppong Sakyi were all approved by the committee, while in Bortianor Ngleshie Amanfro the incumbent MP, Sylvester Tetteh, together with two contenders – Vida Agyekum Acheampong and Eric Kojo Kuranchie – were also passed.

Addressing the media after sailing through the process, Dr Adomako Kissi, the incumbent MP for Anyaa Sowutuom, said maintaining him as the parliamentary candidate in the constituency would improve the party’s chances of retaining the seat.

He explained that with the NPP about to lose a chunk of its most experienced legislators in the coming parliament, his experience in the eighth parliament would come in handy.

Adwoa Safo, the incumbent and aspirant for Dome-Kwabenya, said she was confident of winning the party’s primaries and retaining the seat in the 2024 general election.

Safo said she still had the trust and confidence of her constituents despite the issues that had characterised her second tenure.

Meanwhile, Michael Oquaye said he was confident of beating Adwoa Safo this time and retaining the seat for the NPP come 7 December 2024.

Addressing the media in an interview after the first day of vetting, Daniel Parker Odarlai France, the Greater Accra regional secretary of the NPP, expressed satisfaction about the process so far.

“During the orphan constituency vetting, there was lots of chaos here, but today, as you can see, this place has been quiet and orderly,” he said.

On the disqualification of the two aspirants, France said they failed to meet aspects of the party’s constitution. He explained that Hagan was disqualified because he failed to submit his nomination forms before the deadline.

“For Samuel Owusu Amankwah, we asked him if he pays his dues, which he said he does, but he didn’t know we had copies of all members who paid their dues. So, after we showed him copies, he said he paid three months in the morning.

“For the past two years, you have not paid your dues. It means you are not a good standing member of the party,” he said.

Assurance of support

Meanwhile, in an interview with the media after his disqualification, Hagan said he would not appeal the decision.

Rather, he offered the assurance of his continued support for the sole aspirant and the party to ensure it emerges victorious in the 2024 general election.

The NPP will hold elections for constituencies where it has sitting MPs on 27 January 2024.

Fourteen of thosee constituencies are in the Greater Accra Region.

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