NDC Primaries: No polls in Ashaiman; incumbent MP declared candidate

There will be no primaries in the Ashaiman constituency for the parliamentary race of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Saturday, the party has announced.

Incumbent MP Ernest Norgbe has been declared candidate for the party following the demise of his only contender Emmanuel Max-Voy. The party reopened nominations after the death of the aspirant but nobody joined the race.

Addressing the media, general secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, disclosed Mr. Norgbe as a result is the party’s candidate for the 2020 elections.

“The MP for Ashaiman has consequently been declared elected. So there will be no election in Ashaiman,” Mr. Nketiah announced.

Mr. Norgbe, who succeeded for deputy majority leader Alfred Agbeshie will be seeking a second term to represent the people of Ashaiman in 2020. In all, 39 unopposed aspirants including sitting MPs have been declared candidates by the party.

According to the general secretary, such constituencies will not partake in the party’s primaries come Saturday. Over 500 aspirants are contesting the primaries in 157 constituencies across the country on Saturday, August 24.

Suspension of elections

The party suspended elections in five constituencies originally scheduled for the exercise. Asawase, Ellembele, Fanteakwa North, Yilo Krobo and Mpohor constituencies will not take part in Saturday’s exercise.

According to the general secretary of the NDC, the move is to ensure some outstanding issues regarding the candidature of some aspirants are addressed. There are other 74 constituencies that are yet to open nominations for the election of parliamentary candidates for the party for the 2020 elections.