NDC Polls: Over 1,000 delegates to elect parliamentary candidate in Jomoro

A total number of one thousand six hundred and fifty-five (1,655) delegates making up the electoral college of opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Jomoro Constituency of the Western Region are to elect parliamentary candidate ahead of the 2020 parliamentary
elections.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is conducting its parliamentary primaries in almost all the 275 Constituencies in the country on Saturday, August 24, 2019.

In Western Region, the party is conducting parliamentary primaries in six Constituencies out of the seventeen Constituencies.

The six constituencies are; Jomoro, Ahanta West, Sekondi, Shama, Amenfi West and Amenfi Central.

Aspirants in the Prestea Huni-Valley, Effia and Wassa East are running unopposed.

However, Ellembelle where the former Petroleum Minister under John Mahama-led administration, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah is seeking re-election, it had been put on hold with Mpohor Constituency.

Nominations were opened and prospective Aspirants were vetted in Evalue-Ajomoro Gwira, Kwesiminstim, Amenfi East, Tarkwa-Nsuaem and Essikado-Ketan Constituencies but their elections have been postponed.

The NDC in the Jomoro Constituency lost the seat to the NPP in 2016 for the first time in the political history of Ghana.

Three Aspirants are therefore battling for the vacancy in the Constituency.

They are; Francis Ackatia Kwaidoo, Samuel Nda Blay Armah and Dorcas Afo Toffey.

Francis Ackatia Kwaidoo and Samuel Nda Blay Armah contested for this same position in 2015 and lost to the party's 2016 parliamentary candidate, Thomas Yankey.

Meanwhile the party will be going into this crucial elections with 185 polling stations.

This year's parliamentary primaries in Jomoro would be taken place at Mpataba Community Center near Half Assini.

Some political pundits in the area have predicted a landslide victory for the female Aspirant, Dorcas Afo Toffey.

Giving the breakdown of the delegates who are expected to cast their votes on Saturday, the Deputy Constituency Communications Officer, Emmanuel Benle said one thousand six hundred and twenty (1,620) Branch Executives would exercise their voting rights.

He added that twenty-nine (29) Constituency Executives, two former Members of Parliament (2 former MPs), three former District Chief Executives (3 former DCEs) and the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Augustine Peter Blay, would also vote.

The Deputy Communications Officer, therefore announced that the voting would start at 7:00am and close at 5:00pm.

He noted that accreditation will be given to all delegates after registration, hence any other person without accreditation will not be allowed to enter the Center.

Speaking to Daniel Kaku, the Constituency Communications Officer, Patrick Ellonu said the good people of Jomoro were looking forward to the NDC to rescue them from the leadership paralysis of the incompetent NPP administration, adding that they couldn't fail the people of the Constituency.

"The good people of Jomoro are looking forward to the NDC to rescue them from the leadership paralysis of the incompetent NPP and we cannot fail the people of Jomoro", he said.

He continued "The Constituency Executive Committee (CEC) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Jomoro wishes all three parliamentary aspirants well in their quest to lead the great NDC party in Jomoro to wrestle power from the incompetent NPP MP".

He, therefore seized the opportunity to hail the aspirants for conducting themselves well before, during and after campaigning. He believes their campaigns to keep unity in the party really worked.

"...Having done a peaceful & decorous campaign so far, the aspirants need to be highly praised for keeping the unity and cohesion in the party", he noted.

The Communications Officer cautioned those who hatched plans to bring disturbances to the venue to desist from that, adding that the Ghana Police Service had promised to provide massive security protection to all delegates and other observers.

He concluded "The Constituency Executive Committee is of the firm belief that all aspirants will continue to keep up the unity and cohesion in the party before, during and after the parliamentary primaries that will be held on Saturday 24th August, 2019 at Mpataba".

The election would be supervised by the Jomoro Municipal Electoral Commission headed by Mr. Isaac Otoo.