The largest opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) is voting today for its parliamentary candidates going into next year’s general elections.
Even though the party will be fielding candidates in all 275 constituencies nationwide, there will be voting in 245 constituencies across the country. GhanaWeb looks at some of the figures relative to this electoral process.
245 – There shall be elections in as many as 245 constituencies according to communiqué from the party’s General Secretary that there would not be voting in a number of constituencies for varied reasons.
Amongst others, some sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) are out of the country on official grounds, there are some legal issues in some places and there are also petitions seeking redress from other constituencies.
30 – There shall not be voting in 30 constituencies across eight regions. Two regions (Northern and Eastern) would have voting conducted in all constituencies there, a total of 64 constituencies.
The breakdown of constituencies without elections this weekend are; 10 in Greater Accra, 5 constituencies each in Volta and Western Region, six in Ashanti Region would not vote and a constituency in Brong Ahafo, Upper East, Upper West and Central regions. 173 – This is the total number of seats that the NPP currently holds in the legislature. And these primaries are supposed to be the first step to increasing their fortunes in Parliament and to take the majority side of the house.
14 – This represents the total number of seats that are safe for the incumbents because they are going unopposed. Their candidature will be okayed by electoral officials at the close of polls.
Some MPs going unopposed include Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Dominic Nitiwul of the Bimbilla constituency in the North.
Lawyer Alex Afenyo Markin of Effutu, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong of Assin Central and Hon. Mathew Opoku Prempeh of Manhyia.
6 – This many MPs have opted to stay out of Parliament for different reasons.
They are; Hon. Papa Owusu-Ankomah, MP for Sekondi, Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, MP for Asuogyamang and, Elizabeth Kwatsoe Tawiah Sackey, MP for Okaikwei North are not seeking re election
The other three are; Mr. Peter Wiafe Peprah, MP for Abetifi; David Oppong Kusi, MP for Ofoase Ayirebi and Hon. Ofosu Asamoah, MP for Kade have also decided to opt out of the legislature.
1 – There is a single focus that this process should lead to. All it takes to win the 2016 General Elections.
Victories and losses will be recorded. Sitting MPs may lose, upsets may result but as the party’s leaders (flagbearer and chairman) have reiterated in separate statements, the bigger battle is 2016.
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