It was joy and sorrow on Saturday when the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) held elections to select new executives in all the constituencies across the country.
The exercise was largely peaceful but it did not pass without the usual intrigues associated with such occasions.
Filing of court injunctions by aggrieved party members dominated the process in a number of constituencies, and there was a reported case of gunshot by a candidate at the Ashanti Akim North Constituency in the Ashanti Region.
There was also a reported case of fainting at Krowor Constituency in the Greater Accra Region and a sudden death of a candidate at Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese in the Central Region in the course of the election.
From the Eastern Region, Daniel Bampoe reports that almost all the incumbent constituency executives in the region who contested performed abysmally.
In the New Juaben South Constituency, the incumbent Chairman, Michael Oteng Adu, lost to Kwame Boamah Dwira after polling 258 votes as against 308 secured by his contender. With the exception of the 1st Vice Chairman, Benjamin Asante; Secretary, Isaac Adjabeng and Treasurer, Silas Kwabena Agyekum, who retained their positions, all other executives lost after the 566 delegates had cast their votes.
The Constituency Organizer, Raphael Obeng Manu – currently standing trial together with three others at the Koforidua Circuit Court “B” for allegedly robbing the constituency secretary – also lost his position to Abubakar Alhassan, popularly known as Bewasa. He polled 352 votes as against 210 secured by the incumbent.
The New Juaben South election was one of the hottest in the region due to controversies and the confusion that characterized the electoral process; it was divided along the factions of the CEO of Ghana Free Zones Board (GFZB) Michael Okyere Baafi and the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Dr Mark Asibe-Yeboah.
In the Suhum Constituency, the incumbent chairman, Emmanuel Agbasi Narte-Yoe, who had ruled for the past eight years, lost after polling 248 votes while Fredrick Ofosu garnered 385, with Joshua Adu Larbi getting 20 votes.
During the voting, the Suhum Municipal Chief Executive, Margaret Darko, appeared to cause confusion when she came to cast her ballot.
MP for the area, Fredrick Opare-Ansah, posed a challenge that the party’s constitution does not allow an MCE to vote in primaries.
Apart from the incumbent secretary, Ernest Lartey, who maintained his position with 508 votes to beat his contender, Odame Asukpa Stephen, with 147, all the old executives were booted out.
At Nkawkaw, there was confusion when the delegates protested against an announcement that the person contesting for the position of chairman was going unopposed; but the situation was brought under control due to heavy security presence.
However, in the Okere Constituency, all the 10 incumbent executives went unopposed.
At the Adeiso Constituency, with the exception of the chairman, Nana Obuobi Addae, and two others who retained their seats, the rest of the incumbent executives were voted out; and at Mpreaso, the new faces, including the former Mpreaso Senior High School headmaster, Seth Amoako – who were challenging the incumbent executives – lost miserably.
However, polls in the Abuakwa South Constituency – the home constituency of President Akufo-Addo, where Samuel Atta Akyea is the MP – were postponed on the orders of the Regional Chairman, Kiston Akomeng Kissi.
From the Brong-Ahafo Region, Daniel Dayee reports that Sunyani East, Techiman North and Asutifi South Constituencies did not take part in the electoral exercise because of misunderstanding among the executives.
Though there was a misunderstanding at Berekum West, the issue was later resolved to pave way for the election.
The exercise went on smoothly at other constituencies, including Sunyani West, where Chairman Kusi Boadu retained his position with 556 votes out of the 685 valid votes cast. His second vice, Alhaji Abu Sadique, also retained his position with 475 votes whilst, Kofi Asante also garnered 478 ballots to beat the incumbent. The Sunyani West MP, who is also the employment minister, Baffour Awuah, was there to watch proceedings.
Emmanuel Opoku reports from the Western Region, Takoradi, that the elections could not be held in four constituencies because of court injunctions placed on them. They are Sekondi, Shama, Ellembelle and Kwesimintsim.
According to the Regional Secretary of the NPP, Charles Bissue, most of the cases were being resolved by the party and gave the assurance that very soon elections would be conducted in those constituencies.
However, in Ahanta West where the election was held, the incumbent Chairman Jonathan Ayepah Amoah, who polled 318, was defeated by Anthony Nketsiah Kwofie with 381 votes at Agona Nkwanta.
Joseph Yaw Baidoo was elected the 1st vice chairman with 398 ballots. He defeated Albert Kweku Stephens, who had 304 votes, while John Agyare was elected 2nd vice chairman with 380 votes while Prince Cudjoe had 325.
The post of secretary went to Kwasi Asobenya Buah with 380 votes to defeat Rudolf Cobbinah, who had 321.
Bernard Kerson Essien was elected assistant secretary with 285 votes, followed by Joseph Jerry Baidoo, 189; Michael Kwesi Blay, 117 and Charles Kwabena Ansah, 111 votes.
The position of women organizer went to Augustina Nketia (385 votes) as against 322 by Helena Prah.
Miss Edem Nipayede was elected women organizer, with 71 votes; and Miss Helena Darkwa and Miss Comfort Abena Akafu polled 14 and eight votes respectively.
Kwesi Tawiah won the position of organizer with 525 votes as against 183 by Patrick Kojo Menu.
Dominic Bansah Awuku was elected the constituency youth organizer. He garnered 375 votes. Samuel Doomson, Stephen Ocloo Amenyo and Mark Osei Nyarko had 174, 100 and 72 respectively.
Mavis Johnson became the new treasurer, beating Edward Bosomtwe by 410 votes to 295.
Salifu Ananza was elected Nassara Coordinator with 428 votes.
In Takoradi, the Assembly Member for Amanful Electoral Area in the constituency was elected chairman.
The new executives were sworn into office by some national and regional officers of the NPP.
From the Ashanti Region, Ernest Kofi Adu reports that constituencies like New Edubiase, Fomena, Effiduase, Ahafo-Ano South/West and Kwadaso had problems and could not vote; but at Manhyia South there were rumours of a court injunction but the event passed peacefully.
Ahead of the elections, there were allegations and counter allegations of missing names of some candidates from the party’s registers as well as disqualification of some candidates, creating mistrust and suspicion among some party members.
In the Obuasi East Constituency, Moses Kwabena Adu won the chairmanship slot with 268 votes to beat Faustina Amissah, who secured 220 of the valid votes.
The 1st vice chairman position went to Justice Anokye with 180 votes, whilst James Kyere won the 2nd vice chairman slot with 251 votes.
At the Adansi Akrofrom Constituency, Safo Adu, the incumbent, consolidated his position after polling 124 votes to beat George Obeng Frimpong and Edward Baffour Awuah, who secured 87 and 83 votes respectively.
The constituency secretary position went to Jonas Maurice Wood after bagging home 118 votes to urge out Sebastian Nti Binful and Morrison Ekow Arthur. They obtained 67 and 105 votes in that order.
Jonas will be assisted by Alexander Martin, whereas Jacob Nyantakyi will be in-charge of the party’s organisation at the constituency level, with Florence Fynn carrying the Women Organizer position.
At Adansi Asokwa, Kwame Owusu swept the chairmanship seat with 363 votes as against 59 secured by Danso Abeam, a retired educationist.
He will be assisted by Dacosta Ohene Boakye as 1st vice chairman; Samuel Awui as secretary and Gladys Ofori as Women Organiser to run the constituency, headed by K. T. Hammond as MP.
From the Volta Region, Fred Duodu reports that Richard Kwadekpo, popularly known as Zola, retained his position as the Ho Central Constituency Chairman.
In all, 34 aspirants contested for the 10 positions in the constituency, with 895 eligible delegates from 168 polling stations casting their votes.
Melvin Tarlue, Central Region, files that the incumbent Women Organiser of the Abura Asebu Kwamankese Constituency died suddenly in the course of the election.
Elizabeth Gaise, aged 57 and wife of Andrew K. Mensah – a onetime NPP MP for the constituency – reportedly died shortly after her victory.
DAILY GUIDE understands that shortly after she was sworn in on Saturday, she collapsed and was rushed to the Abura Dunkwa District Government Hospital for medical attention but died at about 11pm whilst on admission.
She was the incumbent Women Organzier and had contested unopposed.
There was another sad story at Krowor where the Nasara Coordinator collapsed and had to be resuscitated.
Reports say Mohammed Alidu, who is the incumbent Nasara coordinator, could probably not stand the shock of losing his position and collapsed during the vote counting.