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Varied fortunes await a number of National Democratic Congress (NDC) big shots as the party conducts its presidential and parliamentary primaries in 274 out of the 275 constituencies tomorrow.

Already, Amenfi West has a candidate in the person of Mr Eric Afful. Voting in both the parliamentary and the presidential primaries took place in the constituency on Wednesday due to a by-election to be held in that constituency following the death of Mr John Gyetuah, the MP for the constituency.
 

The NDC has agreed that by his election, Mr Afful becomes the party’s first candidate for the 2016 parliamentary elections.

However, ballots for the presidential primary in that constituency have been sealed; they will be counted and added to the tally for that election tomorrow.

Expanded college

The NDC took advantage of the by-election in Amenfi West to pilot the universal adult suffrage system there in order to learn from it.

Indeed, the decision of the party to expand its electoral college in all the 275 constituencies has given some big shots, especially the incumbent MPs, a herculean task in what has become the most competitive primaries of the party in the Fourth Republic.

President John Dramani Mahama, who is contesting as the sole candidate in the presidential primary, is aiming at a 100 per cent endorsement from members of the party who will vote in the national exercise.

Although he is contesting unopposed, by the NDC constitution he still needs more than 50 per cent of the valid votes cast to scale through.

Therefore, when he casts his ballot in his native Bole, he will be doing so with the strongest conviction that his candidature will receive an overwhelming endorsement by the party to send a strong signal to the opposition parties, particularly the New Patriotic Party (NPP), that the entire NDC is solidly behind him once again for another victory in the November 7, 2016 elections.

Incumbents in quandary

Already, with the expansion of the Electoral College across the board, incumbent MPs in particular are in a quandary as to what to do to hold onto their ‘safe seats’.

The primaries, which were originally scheduled to be held on Saturday, November 7, were postponed by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to cater for the extension of nominations and vetting of aspirants in some parts of the country.

The postponement was also to give more time to the Electoral Commission (EC) to print ballot papers and notice of polls.

Undoubtedly, it has brought in its wake increased campaign cost to the aspirants, who are actually distributing money to influence voters’ choice.

Herculean task

In Nadowli-Kaleo in the Upper West Region, the Majority Leader in Parliament, Alban Bagbin, is facing stiff competition for the first time as he bids for a seventh term in Parliament.

Though one of the candidates has pulled out of the primary there and thrown his weight behind Mr Bagbin, it still leaves the incumbent facing two others — Roger Galee, a lecturer at the Wa Campus of the University for Development Studies, and John Salifu Dumbah.

The Minister of State and incumbent MP for Wa Central, Dr Rashid Pelpuo, is also in a virtual battle for survival with the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Dr Musheibu Mohammed-Alfa, with the other contestants, namely Mahama Iddrisu, Wahid Banpouri-Iddrisu and Kukurah Jamal-deen, appearing to be standing on the periphery.

The Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Amin Amid Sulemani, has Mary Hagbana Abu Azantilo to contend with in Sissala West.

A former Upper West Regional Minister and one-time General Secretary of the NDC, Mr Bede Ziedeng, is contesting incumbent Abu Samson in Lawra, while the Minister for Chieftaincy and Culture, Dr Henry Daanna Seidu, is seeking to dethrone the incumbent MP, Mr Ameen Salifu, in Wa East.

The DCE for Nandom, Cuthbert Baba Kuupiel, is contesting Richard Kuuire to become Dr Benjamin Kunbuor’s successor in Nandom, while a former Health Minister, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, is up against Alhaji Seidu Tungbani and Patrick Pharuk Banbanaa in Wa West.

In Lambussie-Karni, Derby Kaale-Ewola Edward and Mercellinus Kandy Welber are in a straight fight, while a former MP, Dr Francis Bawana Dakura, returns to contest an immediate past DCE, Nelly-Vivian Kuoko Banonghore.

Greater Accra

In Accra, Mr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije is facing competition from Mr Wisdom Nii Amoo Dodoo, a businessman and grass-root member of the party who is contesting the parliamentary slot for the third time, in Ablekuma South. However, the incumbent MP, Mr Fredric Fritz Baffour, is not contesting.

The primaries are expected to be keen across the Greater Accra Region where, among the 106 aspirants, there are 12 females, including Ms Obuobia Opoku-Darko, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Free Zones Board, and Dr Ezenator Agyeman Rawlings, a daughter of former President Rawlings, who has achieved a celebrity status in Klottey Korle. 

Dr Rawlings is giving Nii Armah Ashietey, the incumbent MP, a lot of headache as he campaigns vigorously to retain the slot.

In Ablekuma West, the race appears competitive for the four aspirants, including three females, seeking to lead the party to the 2016 elections.

The billboards and posters of the three females, namely Madam Marian Korkor Ayertey, Mrs Diana Twum and Akweley Martey-Amoo, and Mr Prince Derek Adjei, are found on virtually every street of the constituency.

The situation is no different in other constituencies, including Weija/Gbawe, where Ms Opoku-Darko has erected a sizeable billboard on the Weija-Kasoa road.

The die is cast and two contenders have locked horns in their determination to thump each other on Saturday to lead the NDC in Ningo Prampram.

With campaigns being rounded off ahead of the polls, the lyrics of a remix version of the popular Gospel song, "Everywhere”, has been changed to: “Everywhere he went, ET was doing good; a mighty MP, he helps the people; when the people saw him, they started shouting; everywhere he went, my ET was doing good”.

But for his aggressive opponent, Mr Sam Nartey George, the good old “Prampram Methuselah”, as the experienced legislator and lay preacher, Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, has been nicknamed in sections of the media, deserves no extension of mandate to serve the people via the 2016 general election.

For him, Mr Mensah must bow out now that the applause is loudest, especially when the aspirations of the people of the constituency have not been met over the decades.

Volta Region

In the Volta Region, dubbed the World Bank of the NDC in terms of vote garnering, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of aspirants seeking to become the party’s parliamentary candidates in the 2016 elections.

Gone are the days when it was difficult for a person to declare that he or she was interested in a political appointment or position because such positions were determined by “an overlord” through endorsement or acclamation.

Today, all that is gone and as many as 95 aspirants, comprising 12 females and 83 males, are contesting slots in the 26 constituencies in the region.

Meanwhile, the party has suspended Jim Yao Morti, a disqualified par­liamentary aspirant in Ketu South. Another contender, a former MP for the area, Albert Zigah, has also been disqualified.

The disqualification of the two reduces to two the number of candi­dates seeking to unseat the incum­bent MP, Fiifi Kwetey, who is also the Minister for Food and Agriculture.

It is interesting watching what unfolds in Ketu North, where Mr James Klutse Avedzi from Afife area is contesting three others — Dr Steven K.M. Ahiawodor, Mr Don Emmanuel Agbanyo and Mr Kwaku Treveh — all from Dzodze.

The Dzodze aspirants may split the votes from the Dzodze area, while Avedzi may obtain more votes at Afife and Weta and go on to win the contest.

Western Region

In Ahanta West in the Western Region, the primary is expected to be one of the most exciting in the region as the aspirants — Mr Sam Pee Yalley, who lost by six votes in the 2012 primary, and the incumbent MP, Mr George Aboagye — are slugging it out once again.

In Jomoro, the incumbent MP and former Air Force pilot, Wing Commander Francis Kabenlah Anaman (retd), saved himself the trouble by opting out, as the constituents claimed he was not visible in the constituency after he won the 2012 election.

In Wiawso, the Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, who is the current MP, is being contested by three others — Dr Felix Nelson Amoakoh, Mr Thomas Armah and Mr Emmanuel Adansi Bondah.

In Takoradi, the Deputy Regional Minister, Alfred Ekow Gyan, is tipped to be the favourite over Madam Janet Ansah.

In Sekondi, a former Deputy Regional Minister, Madam Betty Bosomtwi-Sam, and two others — Mr Emmanuel Assifuah and Ms Charlotte Otuwa Odum — are expected to give a former MCE, Captain Anthony Cudjoe (retd), serious competition.

Central Region

In the Central Region, the Atta Mills factor will be at play in Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA), as a younger brother of the late President, Mr Samuel Atta Mills, introduces a new dimension to the game.

Three others vying for the slot in the constituency are Mr Francis Asmah, a Takoradi-based lawyer; Mr Mathew Kwoffie, the current Constituency Secretary, and the incumbent MP, Mr Abeiku Crentsil.

Mr Kobby Acheampong, the CEO of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications, is also fighting hard to win the Cape Coast North slot but will find Mr Egyir Aikins, a former Chief Executive of the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly, a hard nut to crack.

Upper East

Undoubtedly a stronghold of the NDC over the years, the Upper East Region has been recording figures for the NDC in both the presidential and parliamentary elections that are encouraging. Therefore, anyone aspiring to be MP there on the ticket of the NDC must have a mass appeal as he or she will be expected to maintain the status quo.

The NDC currently occupies 13 out of the 15 seats in the region, while the NPP and the People's National Convention have one seat each.

Forty-eight parliamentary aspirants of the NDC, including two unopposed, are poised to contest the primaries.

Out of the 48, only three are women — Madam Vivian Anafo, the DCE for Nabdam; Hajia Laadi Ayii Ayamba, the MP for Pusiga, and Dr Vida Nyagre, a lecturer at the University for Development Studies.

Ashanti Region

In the Ashanti Region, where the NDC occupies four parliamentary seats — Ahafo Ano North, New Edubiase, Sekyere Afram Plains and Asawase — the focus will be in Ahafo Ano North where the Regional Minister, Mr Peter Anarfi-Mensah, is  contesting the incumbent MP, Kofi Yakah.

However, the Majority Chief Whip and MP for Asawase, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, will run unopposed, while the incumbent MP for New Edubiase has two people on his heels.

A brother of the owner of the New Edubiase Football Club, Abdul Salam, and a representative of the grass roots, Nicolas Yeboa, could give Mr Yakah a good run for his money.

Meanwhile, two key constituencies remain sure bets for the NDC to achieve its desired five seats and one million votes. They are Obuasi East and one of the new constituencies created for the last elections, Ahafo Ano South East, where the MCE for Obuasi, Ofori Agyeman, and a chartered insurer, Chris Boadi, could pick the slots for the party.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, 98 parliamentary aspirants of the NDC, made up of party stalwarts, neophytes and budding politicians, will vie for 47 slots during the primaries in the Ashanti Region.           

Brong Ahafo

The NDC currently occupies 16 out of the 29 seats in Brong Ahafo and will seek to hold on to those seats and possibly claim some of the 13 seats occupied by the NPP by electing formidable candidates on Saturday.

The NDC seats are Asunafo South, Asutifi South, Tano South, Dormaa West, Tain, Banda, Techiman North, Techiman South, Kintampo North, Kintampo South, Nkoranza South, Atebubu-Amantin, Pru East, Pru West, Sene East and Sene West.

Northern Region

In the Northern Region, Tamale Central, Tamale North, Sagnarigu, Mion and Yapei Kusawgu are the constituencies to watch.

There are two sitting MPs in the region who are fiercely being contested. They are Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, the MP for Tamale Central and Minister of Roads and Highways, and Dr Ahmed Alhassan Yakubu, the MP for Mion and a Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture.

Alhaji Fuseini is being contested by Alhaji Ibrahim Seidu, an engineer and Director at the Feeder Roads Department, and one Alhassan Adam, with Engineer Ibrahim tipped to disturb his boss.

Dr Yakubu is being challenged by six other aspirants — Dr Du-Awia Mohammed Zakaria, the 41-year-old Director of the School of Social Work; Mr Mohammed Abdul-Aziz, Mr Alhassan Adam, Mr Abdul Jalil Bawa, Mr Munkaila King Zakaria and Mr Prince Ibrahim Tanko.

Alhaji Bashir A. Fuseini Alhassan, the incumbent, is tipped to retain the Sagnarigu slot, while Alhassan Suhuyini is contesting the Tamale North slot with Mohammed Abdul Salam, Alhaji Abukari Sumani, Dr Abdulai Salifu, Mohammed Nabila, Mohammed Abdullah and Mohamed Kamal Deen.

So far, the process leading to the primaries have generally been peaceful, though there have been few regretable incidents which could have been avoided.

As of press time, reports indicated that primaries may not be held in Chiana Paga and Nkwanta South, as the party was trying to resolve outstanding issues there.