The move by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti region bid to protect its sitting MPs has been challenged.
Delegates and polling station executives as well as party executives are fuming and have threatened to kick against the move.
The delegates and electorate in some constituencies particularly in Amansie Central, Asokwa, Subin, Nhyiaeso, Suame, Adansi Asokwa, Obuasi East and West and Kumawu constituencies, among others.
The idea to maintain sitting MPs is said to have been mooted by the third National Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP Frederick Fredua Antoh also known as F. F. Antoh, with the backing of the Ashanti Regional Chairman, first Vice regional Chairman and the Regional Secretary to retain sitting MPs against the will of the general electorate.
F. F. Antoh, in April 2018 admonished newly elected Ashanti regional executives of the party to ensure that all the 44 MPs from Ashanti Region run unopposed during the parliamentary primaries.
According to him, this will ensure the party secures all their 44 parliamentary seats in the region and further capture the three remaining seats being occupied by the NDC in the NPP’s stronghold for years at Asawase, Ejura Sekyere Odumase and Sekyere Afram Plains constituencies respectively.
Chairman Antoh, believes election 2020 will be keenly contested with the NDC seriously poised to take over the management of the country again four years after losing power to NPP hence the need for strong tactics led by experienced current parliamentarians to safeguard the party’s votes with all seriousness it requires.
Following the scheme, about 35 MPs in Ashanti region are said to go unopposed in the impending primaries in April this year.
But some party executives and delegate have already served notice that they will resist all attempts by the party’s national and regional executives to impose non performing Members of Parliaments particularly in Kumasi on them and threatened to make the party unpopular and go to the extent of voting against the party.
The delegates are also angered by the fact that the very regional executives who are fronting for the imposition of the MPs are making monetary gains at their (delegates) expense while they are losing.
In the Asokwa Constituency in Kumasi, NPP delegates and members are complaining against a move by their constituency Chairman, Rev. Fosu Nkromah, to allow the incumbent MP, Madam Patricia Appiagyei, to run unopposed in the party primaries.
Dr. Francis Nana Yaw Boakye
The chairman has been accused of destabilizing the peace of the party and of not being “clean”.
The incumbent, Madam Patricia Appiagyei, is seeking a third term in office. A medical doctor at the Komfo Anokye Teaching hospital (KATH) Dr. Francis Nana Yaw Boakye is gunning to take over the Asokwa Parliamentary seat from the incumbent reported to be falling out of favor with most of the constituents.
The former MP for the area and currently the CEO of GIHOC Distilleries, Maxwell Kofi Jumah is lacing his boots to join the race. It is gathered that on Sunday, December 15, 2019, the Chairman, working with MP, met with some party executives ostensibly to receive their Xmas gifts, and then required them to sign a document to endorse Mama Pat, the MP, to run unopposed in the party’s primaries, which move has been confirmed by the Constituency Secretary, Papa Yaw Asare-Bediako.
In the Subin Constituency, three other aspirants have shown up to battle it out with the incumbent MP, Eugene Boakye Antwi, accused of being disrespectful, arrogant, boastful and rains insults on delegates who resent his views.
The aspirants include Frank Kwadwo Duodu, J. B. Danquah and Villy Acheampong who contested the seat prior to the 2016elections with then incumbent Hon. Isaac Osei.
Delegates in the Subin constituency intend to vote against the NPP if sitting MPs are imposed on them. Frank Kwadwo Duodu has said the Subin seat would be keenly contested in spite of all efforts to undemocratically maintain the sitting MP.
Last January 2, 2020, there was a crunch meeting at the MP’s house at Esereso with the new elected Assembly members, Coodinators and the constituency executive members to find ways of helping the Subin MP to go unopposed.
The main speaker for the January 2 meeting was Mr. Sam Cudjoe, the Second Regional vice chairman for Ashanti NPP.
Meanwhile, the party’s following in the region has called on National Executives of the party to call the regional executives to order against the intended imposition of MPs to avoid voter apathy in the 2020 elections.
