27 women to contest NDC orphan primaries

Out of the 297 people vying for the 144 slots of non-National Democratic Congress parliamentary seats, only 27 are women.

Ghana has just19 females in the 230 House of Legislature and out of this, the NDC also has five female MPs.

The party opened nominations on August 15 and announced that female aspirants would pay only 50 per cent of the total filing fee as part of its measures to get more women into parliament. The filing of nominations closed on September 15, 2011.

Ashanti Region topped with regard to the number of women who filed their nomination to contest on the slot of the party to be parliamentary candidates.

The region produced eight female applicants out of a total of 80 applicants. Eastern had six females; Central, 4; Greater Accra, 3; Brong Ahafo, 2, Upper West, 1; Northern, 1. No woman filed to contest a parliamentary seats in Brong Ahafo and Volta regions.

Currently, the NDC has 116 seats in the 230-member Parliament. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has 107; People’s National Convention (PNC) has 2, Convention People’s Party (CPP) has only one and four members are independent.

On the regional basis, Ashanti Region recorded 80 applicants which represents the highest number of applicants, followed by Eastern, 48; Brong Ahafo, 37; Greater Accra, 37; Western, 27; Northern, 16; Upper East, 15; Upper West,13 and Volta, 2.

Weija and Nanton constituencies attracted eight hopefuls each, making them the only ones to have attracted the highest number of hopefuls.

Some of the lucky applicants who would be vying for their seats unopposed, provided they qualify after the vetting include E. K. Agyekum for Nkoranza South; Philip Awuah, Sunyani East; Eric Opoku, Asunafo South; Eric Addae, Asutifi North; Dr Oteng Adjei, Bosomtwe; Nuhu Alhassan Dicko, Atwima Nwabiagya; Alidu Baba Dabasea, Suame; De-Graft Forkuo, Asante Akim South; Kwame Adarkwa, Bosome Freho; Samuel Yaw Adusei, Bantama; Samuel Appiah Kusi, Offinso North and Alexender Ackon.

In the Eastern Region, those who would be vying for their positions unopposed are: Alhaji Sanusen, Abuakwa South; Dr Kwasi Apea-Kubi, Akim Swedru; George Opare Addo, Okere; Samuel Asamoah, Abetifi; Victor Smith, Abuakwa North.

In the Central Region, the only aspirant who might be elected unopposed is Mr Foster Joseph Andoh for the Heman Lower Denkyira, while in the Upper East, Mr Roger Abolumbisa would be elected unopposed to contest the Builsa Seat.