Trouble In NDC� As Ministers �Battle� MPs

Some Ministers of State and sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), will today engage in a �political fight� of their lives to grab the party�s primaries except the Greater Accra Region. In all, 290 aspirants are contesting in constituencies where there are siting MPs because elections in �orphan� constituencies have already been held. The NDC has 116 parliamentarians. They are Northern � 22; Volta � 21; Greater Accra � 18; Western � 11; Central � 11; Brong Ahafo � 9; Upper East � 8; Upper West � 7; Eastern � 7 and Ashanti � 3. The contest is expected to be keen as some key ministers of state have joined the race alongside a host of their aspirants in the hope of representing their constituencies in the Election 2012. Already, the contest in some of the constituencies has been postponed due to controversy, while that of the Greater Accra Region has been rescheduled for next week for logistical reasons. Mr. George Lawson, the Deputy General Secretary in-charge of Operations, told the Times that the necessary arrangements had been made for a smooth contest in all the constituencies except those on hold. Attention however, would be focused on areas where ministers such as Okudzeto Ablakwa will pitch his strength against the incumbent NDC MP for North Atongu, Charles Sename Hodugbey. Also to be watched is the Deputy Finance Minister, Fiifi Kwatey, who will also contest the sitting MP, Mr. Albert Zigah for the Ketu South seat.