NDC vetting in Accra going well - Ade Coker

THE Greater Accra Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has started vetting 37 aspirants to determine their eligibility and qualification as parliamentary candidates.

The panel, which is chaired by the Regional Chairman of the party, Mr Kobina Ade Coker, will ensure that the aspirants qualify by the 1992 constitutional requirements for Members of Parliament (MPs) as well as the party’s constitution.

For the first day, the panel dealt with aspirants from Ayawaso Central and Okaikoi South.

Currently, out of the 27 parliamentary seats in the Greater Accra Region, the NDC has 18 and the NPP has nine.

Briefing the Daily Graphic, Mr Ade Coker noted that “the first day of vetting went well and was very successful” and added that the aspirants gave a very good account of themselves.”

Asked what challenges the panel or the aspirants faced, he replied that there were no challenges but added that “I will not want to preempt the work of the committee because at the end of the process, we will have to present our report to the national executive.”

He said the regional panel was satisfied with the performance of most of the aspirants who came prepared, performed well, sounded capable and were credible materials who would be able to snatch the seats from the NPP and increase the NDC’s standing in parliament, adding that “most of them fit into the region’s strategy of increasing the seats by at least five and increasing the presidential votes as well.”

Mr Ade Coker expressed confidence that the region would be able to increase the seats because the NDC government, led by President J.E.A. Mills, had done marvelously well, especially with the execution of unprecedented development projects within the first two and half years, the stabilisation of the cedi against major foreign currencies and the sustenance of peace and stability in the country.

He also indicated that the party had instituted a committee to thoroughly investigate the disturbances in Ashaiman involving some members of the party who were putting up unruly behaviour.

He said the outcome of the investigation would enable the party to put a lasting endto such disturbances.