There were some heavy casualties at last Saturday’s Parliamentary primaries of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) where some incumbent Members of Parliament (MP) across the country, lost their bid to return to Parliament in 2025.
As many as 16 incumbent MPs lost their tickets to new entrants and this could affect the opposition NDC’s presence and efficiency in the hung Parliament from now until the 2024 general election.
In the Upper East Region, four MPs, failed to get the required majority votes from NDC delegates during Saturday’s primaries to represent the party in their respective constituencies. They include, MP for Chiana-Paga, Thomas Dalu, Navrongo Central MP, Sampson Tangobu Chirigia and Edward Bawa of Bongo.
The MP for Sagnarigu in the Northern Region, Alhassan Bashir Alhassan Fuseini, has been booted out by the delegates who gave the baton to newcomer, Attah Issah, to lead the party for the 2024 parliamentary elections.
A.B.A Fuseini, widely known for his proverbs, polled 333 votes, while his main contender Attah Issah, polled 801 votes.
Alhaji Fuseini was seeking to lead the party for the fourth term in the constituency, but it is obvious his people had gotten tired of him as shown by the numbers on Saturday when the ballots were counted.
Also, South Tongu MP, Wisdom Kobena Woyome lost to Maxwell Kwame Lukutor. While Woyome polled 562, Lukutor had 597 votes.
Dela Sowah, MP for Kpando, lost to Sebastian Fred Deh with 281 votes. Mr Deh won the candidacy with 332 votes.
Also, the MP for Afadzato South, Angela Alorwu-Tay, also lost her bid to retain her candidacy. She polled 225 votes, losing to her contender, Frank Afriyie, who won with 631 votes.
In Krachie East, the incumbent MP, Wisdom Gidisu, lost with 257 votes. The main contender, Nelson Kofi Djabab, won with 441 votes.
Pru East MP, Dr Kwabena Donkor, has also lost his bid. Emmanuel Kwaku Boam beat the incumbent MP with 474 votes.
In Bia West, the incumbent MP Augustine Tawiah lost to Mustapha Amadu Tanko. Mr Tanko won with 935 votes, while Mr Tawiah polled 452 votes.
Also, Dr Alex Adomako Mensah, MP for Sekyere Afram Plains, lost to newcomer, Hajia Nasira Afrah.
In the Amenfi Central constituency, Peter Yaw Kwakye-Ackah was beaten by Joana Gyan Cudjoe. A total of 1,486 delegates cast their ballot to elect her as the parliamentary candidate.
Abeiku Crentsil, the MP for Ekumfi in the Central Region was also beaten.
The new entrants are; Nikyema Alamzy, who polled 488 votes to beat Thomas Dalu, who polled 300 votes in the Chiana-Paga constituency.
In the Navrongo Central constituency, Simon Aworigo, polled 475 votes to beat Sampson Chirigia, who polled 447 votes.
Former Ridge Hospital Director, Dr Thomas Anaba, polled 250 votes to beat Albert Alalzuuga who polled 160 votes in the Garu constituency.
In the Bongo constituency, former Executive Secretary of the Labour Commission, Charles Dua Bawa, polled 535 votes to beat Edward Bawa who polled 509 votes.
Ebenezer Ndebila polled 450 votes in the Zebilla constituency against his main contender Nelson Ndebugre who polled 403 votes. However, in the Talensi constituency, Mahama Daniel Dung, polled 250 votes against Zinekena Solomon who polled 183 votes.
Incumbent MP for Pusiga, Hajia Laadi Ayamba, Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, Builsa North, James Agalga, Bolga East, Dr Dominic Ayine, and Nabdam constituency retained their bid for the 2024 parliamentary elections.
However, three incumbent MPs; Builsa South, Dr Clement Apaak, Bolga Central, Isaac Adongo, and Tempane, Lydia Adakurugu, 0went unopposed.
