WITH only eight weeks to go for the December 7 general election, only the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have elected candidates for almost all the 28 constituencies in the Eastern Region.
While the NPP has fielded candidates for all the constituencies except Suhum, the NDC has covered 23 leaving Asuogyaman, Fanteakwa, Akyem Swedru, Kade and Akyem Oda.
The People’s National Convention (PNC), the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) and the Convention People’s Party (CPP) have not come out with those contesting for the constituency seats.
The Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), which stated that it had elected candidates to contest, has not even named the constituencies involved, and according to its Regional Secretary, Barimah Sarfo Kantanka, the party would make that known after a visit to the region, possibly this week.
Those contesting for the NPP are W.O. Boafo, Akropong Constituency; Kofi Osei Ameyaw, Asuogyaman; Kwasi Annor Ankamah, Atiwa, K. Amankwa Asiamah, Fanteakwa; Professor Samuel Amoako, Abuakwa North; Peter Wiafe Pepera, Abetifi; Joseph Amponsah-Bosompem, Akyem Swedru; Robert Owusu Boateng, Akyem Oda; Ofosu Asamoah, Kade; David Oppong Kusi, Ofoase-Ayirebi; Dr Kofi Asare Akwatia; Dan Botwe, Okere; and Madam Gifty Klenam, Lower West Akyem.
The rest are Madam Beatrice Bernice Boateng, New Juaben South; Seth Kwame Acheampong, Mpraeso; Esther Obeng Dapaah, Abirem; Ayeh Paye Samuel, Ayensuano; Samuel Atta Akyea, Abuakwa South; Okerchiri K. Adusah, Nkawkaw; Osei Bonsu Amoah, Aburi/Nsawam, and Hackman Owusu Agyeman, New Juaben North.
The NDC team is made up of Anthony Gyampoe, Akropong; George Opare Addo, Okere; Raymond Tawiah, Yilo Krobo; Michael Teye Nyaunu, Lower Manya Krobo; Stephen Amoanor, Upper Manya Krobo; Rev. Josef Asare Akoto, Asuogyaman; Ransford Buakyi, New Juaben South; Simon Peter Asirifi, Abuakwa North Osei, Abuakwa South; Samuel Fleicher Kwabi, Suhum; Emanuel Attah Twum, Atiwa; Joseph Kwaku Nkansa Boamah, Nkawkaw, and Sammuel Asamoah, Abetifi.
The rest are: Kofi Ahaliga, Afram Plains South; Didieye Aboagye, Afram Plains North; Mike Dompreh, Aburi/Nsawam; Joe Amanquanor, Upper West Akyem; Seth Okyere, Lower West Akyem; Baba Jamal, Akwatia; Prince Yaw Danso, Ofoase/Ayirebi; Napoleon Asiamah, Abirem, and Michael Opuni, Ayensuano.
The NPP had has problems with the Suhum seat, because after five attempts, none of the two aspirants, Mr Opare Ansah, the incumbent, and Mr Brynn Acheampong could be elected.
The first gatherings for that purpose at Adidiso, a farming community within the constituency and Koforidua, the regional capital, were disrupted by followers of the two contestants, while three other meetings in different locations for the same purpose also ended in a deadlock, with the two contestants securing 51 votes each.
To resolve the impasse, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party has taken up the issue, and according to the Regional Secretary of the party, Mr Alecs Agogbo, a research team from the party’s headquarters has already visited the area to study the situation on the ground.
“The research team has acquainted itself with the problem, and will recommend to the NEC what to do to get us a candidate who will retain the seat for us,” Mr Agbobo said.
He said on the whole, the NPP would improve on both presidential and parliamentary votes that it secured in the 2004 elections, by retaining all the 22 seats it won and also make a significant breakthrough in some of the six constituencies that it always lost to the NDC.
He added that three of such constituencies, namely, Lower Manya Krobo, Upper Manya Krobo, Yilo Krobo, Upper West Akyem, Afram Plains South and Afram Plains North, which he said had been the Achilles’ heel of the NPP in the region would fall to that party in December.
The Regional Secretary of the NPP further stated that although President Kufuor won more votes than some of the party’s MPs in the previous elections, Nana Akufo-Addo, the Presidential aspirant, would improve on the presidential votes and perform much better than most of the party’s parliamentary candidates, who he said, would retain their seats.
“The NPP had performed creditably in all sectors and had won the confidence of floating voters who will vote for Nana Akufo-Addo,” he stated.
Mr Agbobo, however, called on the rank and file of the party to intensify their efforts in that respect, since that could only be accomplished through dedication and hard work.
The NDC, which had also made significant inroads to improve on its fortunes in the region, had targeted 16 constituencies, which it believed, would fall to the party..
Mr Anthony Gyampoe, the Regional Secretary of the party, who is also contesting the Akropong Constituency, said NDC’s victory in the region would be due to the failure of the Kufuor Administration to address the problems of the people in the area.
“We are poised for victory, because the Kufuor administration has woefully failed to address the socio-economic problems facing the country,” Mr Gyampoe stated with confidence.
He, however, called on the rank and file of the NDC to work extra hard for a resounding victory.
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