The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has successfully vetted and cleared all nine aspirants seeking to contest the upcoming parliamentary primary in Ejisu in the Ashanti Region.
They are Lawyer Kwabena Boateng, Dr Evans Duah, Klinsman Karikari Mensah, Helena Mensah, Jacqueline Abena Pokua Amoah-Boaitey, Portia Baffoe Abronye, Lawyer Kwesi Nyantakyi, Aaron Prince Duah and Yaa Akyawmaa Aboagye
The contestants on Saturday subjected themselves to the committee chaired by Deputy Majority Leader Patricia Appiagyei.
The NPP has scheduled the election of a parliamentary candidate on April 13, 2024, following the passing of the MP for the area Dr John Kumah.
Director of Elections of the NPP Evans Nimako said the party will be issuing guidelines for the primaries pending a meeting with its National Executive Committee (NEC).
“The Committee has recommended that all of them be allowed to participate in this contest. Also, we’ve taken them through the ballot and so balloting has also been done. We’ve informed them that the National Executives of the party will meet them on Tuesday.
“They have been advised by the Committee to conduct a campaign exercise that will bring unity,” Mr Nimako added.
Dr. John Kumah, former MP for the area had been battling an undisclosed illness for some time, leading him to seek treatment in Germany.
Despite his health challenges, he returned to Ghana to ensure the passage of critical revenue measures in the 2024 budget after the minority threatened rejection.
The sudden loss of the deputy finance minister has deeply affected Parliament, with Deputy Finance Minister and MP for Atiwa East, Mrs. Abena Osei-Asare, weeping uncontrollably upon hearing the news.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) has indicated its readiness to conduct a by-election for the Ejisu Constituency.
The Director for Electoral Services at the Electoral Commission, Dr. Serebour Quaicoe had indicated that the Commission always makes provisions for by-elections.
“Article 112 of the Constitution says that when a vacancy occurs the Clerk of Parliament will inform the Electoral Commission seven days after the incident. When we are informed and it is an ordinary incident the Commission has thirty days but if it is a result of death we have sixty days to conduct a by-election.
“If the vacancy occurs less than three months to a General Election there will not be an election, so as and when we are informed officially we will kick start the process and we are ever ready,” Mr. Quaicoe explained.
