Gt Accra NDC vets aspirants today

04/01/12
THE Greater Accra Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will today begin the vetting of the 71 aspirants vying for the 18 slots to become the party’s aspiring parliamentary candidates.
This affords the party the opportunity to go through the documentations of the applicants and also delve deep into some areas of the lives of the aspirants to ensure that in both areas they satisfy the NDC qualification criteria and the 1992 constitution.
Although the regional vetting forms part of the party’s constitutional demands, it is the national executive that has the final authority to give the green light or disqualify any aspirants.
In the Greater Accra, all the 18 sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) are seeking the mandate of the party’s delegates to re-represent the NDC during the December 7, 2012 parliamentary elections. However, none of them is going unopposed, with the Adenta MP, Mr Kojo Adu Asare, having as many as six challengers.
The incumbent MP for Odododiodoo, Nii Tackie Kommey, is being challenged by two persons including a Presidential Staffer, Nii Lantey Vanderpuji, at Ablekuma Central. Mr Chaie Tettey Theophilus will battle it out with three other members of the party including Alhaji Alidu Haruna for the Ablekuma Central ticket of the party.
Three other persons are challenging Mr Fritz Baffour who is the MP for Ablekuma South, while at the Korle Klottey, the incumbent MP who is also the Greater Accra Minister, Nii Armah Ashietey, is being contested by three others, including Mr Wakefield Ackuaku.
At Ayawaso East, Dr Mustapha Ahmed, the sitting MP who doubles as a Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing will contest the slot with Alhaji Haruna Ibrahim Rasid and Alhaji Gedel M. Ahmed.
One of the longest serving MPs in the Fourth Republic, Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, the MP for Ningo Prampram and the Minister of Employment and Social Welfare has only one person challenging him, while at Shai Osudoku, the sitting MP Mr David Tetteh Assumeng has five others to contend with.
At Sege, four persons are challenging the re-election of the incumbent MP, Mr Alfred Wallace G. Abayateye.
The Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport and the sitting MP for Ledzokuku, Nii Nortey Duah, has two challengers while another Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways, Dr Nii Oakley Quaye -Kumah, who is also the MP for Krowor has four other contenders to deal with.
The MP for Dade Kotopon, Nii Amasah Namoale, who doubles as the Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, has four challengers including his constiutuency secretary Ms Rita Sowah. Member of Parliament for Obom-Domeabra, Daoud Anum Yemo, faces four other hopefuls.
The MP for Abokobi-Madina, Alhaji Amadu Bukari Sorogho, after vetting will face three other aspirants at the primaries that will select one of them to represent the party at the constituency. At Ada three other party members will be challenging the re-election of Mr Alex Tetteh-Enyo.
At the Trobu/Amasaman, Mr Ernest Attuquaye Armah has five other contestants to deal with, while at Shai Osudoku, five others will be contesting the sitting MP, Mr David Tetteh Assumeng.
In a related development, Zainabu Issah reports that Mr Gedel, lecturer at the Accra Polytechnic one of the aspirants for Ayawaso East has stated that his vision was to open educational opportunities for the NDC youth activist and beyond in the constituency as well as unite the support base of the party in future elections at the constituency through transparent and accountable leadership.
Mr Gedel who is also the NDC polling station Branch Secretary of Kubatubira branch of the East Ayawaso Constituency said he was proud of making the step to improve upon the conditions of the people in the community.
“I want to be able to set a standard in the community and also provide opportunities for the youth in the community,” he said.
He however called for peace and unity among party members and urged them to vote for the victory of the part in the upcoming elections.
He also appealed to the aspirants to desist from any action that could disturb the peace and unity of the party.