The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has started the vetting of aspirants vying to become the party’s parliamentary candidates for the 2024 general election in all the 16 regions of Ghana.
The vetting is taking place in all the orphan constituencies except six, namely Ketu North, Akatsi North, Yilo Krobo, Jomoro, Fomena and Bawku Central.
In the Northern region, there are seven orphan constituencies and the two-day exercise is expected end today Wednesday, November 15, 2023 in Tamale.
About 17 potential candidates are contesting across the seven constituencies including Tamale South, Tamale Central, Tamale North, Savelugu, Kpandai, Wulensi, and Saboba.
The remaining constituencies, Sagnarigu and Kumbungu, however witnessed Madam Felicia Tettey and Mr. Salam Hamza Fatawu going unopposed respectively.
They have since been acclaimed as the 2024 parliamentary candidates of the party.
According to the NPP Northern Regional Secretary, Prof. Hudu Zakaria, the vetting is a pivotal stage in the selection process of parliamentary candidates.
“New Patriotic Party (NPP), in its commitment to fostering transparency, accountability, and excellence within the democratic process, is pleased to announce to the general public the upcoming vetting session for the party’s parliamentary aspirants in the Northern Region who have successfully filed their nominations to contest for the position of parliamentary candidates in the constituencies in the region where the party does not have a sitting member of parliament” he announced.
Prof. Zakaria said the exercise is designed to assess and evaluate each aspirant’s qualifications, experiences, and aspirations.
This, according to him, forms part of the process of identifying and recommending the most competent and dedicated individuals to represent the party in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Prof. Zakaria explained that the exercise will be take place in the seven out of the nine orphan constituencies following the successful conduct of acclamation for the Sagnarigu and Kumbungu Constituencies, which registered sole candidates at the close of nominations.
“The process is in response to the directives of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party issued on Friday, November 10th, 2023, directing the regional party to organize vetting sessions for their parliamentary aspirants in the orphan constituencies from Tuesday 14th to Thursday 17th November 2023” he added.
The Regional Secretary emphasized that after the vetting, successful candidates will be recommended for elections by their respective constituency electoral college.
Vetting committee
The Northern Regional vetting committee representing the national party, is being chaired by Dr. Antoinette Tsibu-Darko, with Mogtar S. Mujitaba and Dr. George Asante as members.
The NPP won nine out of the 18 parliamentary seats in the northern region in the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections.
The governing party is hoping to improve on their numbers in the Northern and other regions in the next general election.
Bono Region
In the Bono region, all is set for the vetting of 25 aspirants who filed their nominations to contest in the parliamentary primaries of the governing party.
They are expected to go through the party’s vetting process in the region, scheduled between today Wednesday November 15, and Thursday November 16.
The aspirants, who would be cleared by the vetting committee would vie in the NPP’s December 2, parliamentary primaries in the six orphan constituencies in the region.
NPP’s Bono Regional Secretary, Mr Kofi Ofosu Boateng, indicated that the vetting will be held at the Hempon Hotel in Sunyani.
Six aspirants are expected to go through the vetting in the Jaman North constituency and they include Eric Yeboah, Siaka Stevens, Solomon Owusu, Enoch Nyarko, Linda Nyarko and Yaya Trawule.
In Jaman South, five aspirants including Yaw Afful, Alexander Ferkah, Retired Colonel Kwadwo Damoah, Andrews Bediako and Daniel Korang would be vetted by the party.
Only two aspirants, namely Ali Maiga Halidu, Ransford Osei Amponsah are to be vetted by the party in the Dormaa West constituency, while the party would vet three aspirants in the Banda constituency.
They include Joe Danquah, Emmanuel Akone and Samuel Yaw Sah.
In the Tain constituency, six aspirants namely Patrick Kwame Asante, Alexander Ababio, Gabriel Osei, Benjamin Afful Manu, Charity Akua Foriwaa Dwomor and Clifford Nana Kyere would go through the vetting process.
In the Wenchi constituency, three aspirants including Alfred Ofori Annye, Kojo Frempong and Albert Ameyaw would also be vetted to contest the party’s primaries.
