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The upcoming National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) primaries are likely to be the most competitive yet in the party’s two-and-half-decade-old history.

A main characteristic is the influx of top government appointees seeking to oust incumbent MPs in NDC strongholds, but some are apprehensive over the party’s new voting format, which will enable every card-bearing member of the party to vote.

Unlike the old system where the direction of the votes could be predicted, the new system introduces many people who are not so well known by many of the candidates.

An incumbent aspirant warned, “This is a new territory; we have to be careful it does not take us to where we don’t want to go.”
The expanded Electoral College is going to decide the fate of aspirants in very competitive primaries, especially in the NDC strongholds. Another feature of the upcoming primaries is that a number of those challenging the incumbent MPs happen to be appointees or top government officials, who can, therefore, cancel the advantage of incumbent MPs in terms of resources.

In an attempt to give early warning and forestall any untoward development, General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has warned that democracy does not mean litigation.

An incumbent recently told The Finder that no one can predict what will happen in primaries, but the danger of some MPs losing their seats is high.

As Barton Odro, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, steps down from the Cape Coast North Constituency, Kobby Acheampong is said to be lacing his boots to contest that seat.

Other new entrants in the NDC primaries whose progress will be closely watched are broadcast journalist Eric Don-Arthur for Effutu, Abeiku Santana for Mfantsiman West, and Alhassan Suhuyini, Tamale North.

At Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA), brother of the late President Prof J.E.A. Mills, Sam Atta Mills, is likely to contest the slot while Ezenator Rawlings, daughter of former President Rawlings, has indicated her interest in contesting the Korley Klottey slot.

Party leaders are especially anxious that arguments in the primaries do not continue post-primaries in order not to distract the party’s efforts in the general elections.

Incumbent MPs likely to face tough challengers include Minister of Foreign Affairs, Madam Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, who is likely to face competition in the primaries from retired soldier Lieutenant Danny William Osardu.

Northern Regional Minister, Mohamed Muniru-Limuna is going for the Damongo slot, thus he will contest the incumbent, Adam Mutawakilu.
Other new entrants who will be closely watched include Ras Mubarak of the National Youth Authority, who is eyeing the Kumbungu seat, while Felix Ofosu Kwakye is also going for the Ablekuma North slot, with the mayor of Accra, Dr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, eyeing the Ablekuma South seat. Fritz Baffour is the current MP there, but it is believed that he is not seeking re-election.

The Anlo Constituency is another hot seat, where the incumbent, Mr Kofi Humado, a former Minister of Youth and Sports as well as Agriculture, is facing a stiff challenge from Alex Doe, Mawunyegah Gandhi, Frank Torblu and Victor Kutor.