PHOTOS: 6 sitting NPP MPs opt out

• Posted on May 6, 2015
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

As many as six incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MPs) have opted out of the party’s parliamentary primaries as at the close of nominations on Thursday, April 30, 2015.

They are Papa Owusu-Ankomah, MP for Sekondi; Ofosu Asamoah, MP for Kade; Madam Elizabeth Sackey, MP for Okaikoi; David Oppong Kusi, MP for Ofoase Ayiribi; Peter Wiafe Peprah, MP for Abetifi; and Robert Nachinab Doameng Mosore, MP for Talensi.

Information gathered by The Finder from the Western Regional office of the NPP at the close of nominations indicates that the Member of Parliament for the Sekondi Constituency, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, did not pick up forms to seek re-election.

At the close of nominations, 50 aspirants had filled nominations to contest seats in the region. The NPP currently occupies a total of eight seats in this region.

The veteran politician wrestled the Sekondi seat from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 1996, a seat he has occupied till date.

Between 2000 and 2008, Papa Owusu-Ankomah served in various capacities in the erstwhile Kufuor administration. It includes Minister of Justice, Youth and Sports, Education as well as Trade, Industry, and Presidential Initiative.

In 2006, he joined the race for the top post of the party as the flagbearer of the party.

In the Eastern Region, three incumbent members of parliament – Ofosu Asamoah, David Oppong Kusi and Peter Wiafe Peprah of the Kade, Ofoase Ayiribi and Abetifi constituencies respectively – also failed to pick up forms to seek re-election.

Madam Elizabeth Sackey, incumbent Member of Parliament of the Okaikoi North Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, has also given up her seat to be contested by new candidates.

She had indicated on various media platforms that her decision not to contest is a personal one to take backstage from frontline politic, with a conviction that the party in her constituency would choose a dedicated person who will work hard for next year’s general election, which Nana Akufo-Addo must win to implement the good policies he has for Ghanaians.

Member of Parliament for Talensi in the Upper East Region, Robert Nachinab Doameng Mosore, who was recently enskinned chief of Tongo, is also out of the race.

The NPP has only two seats in this region.

In the Ashanti Region, the stronghold of the NPP, all 43 sitting Members of Parliament are seeking re-election.

Information gathered by The Finder from the region indicates that a total of 135 aspirants filed their nominations to contest parliamentary seats in the region, with only seven incumbents going unopposed.

In the Northern Region, 77 aspirants, including all 10 sitting Members of Parliament, filed nominations to contest the upcoming parliamentary primaries of the party.

Sixty-seven of this number are candidates seeking nominations in orphan constituencies in the region.

Meanwhile, officials of the party will commence a nationwide vetting of aspirants today.

-The Finder