The controversial NPP primaries to elect a parliamentary candidate for Suhum Constituency yesterday ended in a stalement. At the end of voting, each candidate had 51 votes.

This election has been in the news for sometime now and was the third time it was being held.

The first election held at Adidiso ended abruptly when Hon. Opare Ansah, the incumbent MP objected to the moves by the Regional Executives to prevent some eight polling station chairmen from voting.

Whilst the Regional Executives argued that the eight delegates were not voted upon, and therefore ineligible, the MP argued that since they took part in the national primaries held in Legon, they have the right.

The second stalement also came about as a result of Mr. Byran Acheampong insistence that he had no information that the primaries was to take place on that day in koforidua. In fact, it ended in a brawl.

With this background, security was tight with 103 police personnel drawn from Koforidua, Kibi, and Suhum. The road leading to the residency of the DCE was blocked.

Apart from the delegates and journalists, no person was allowed to come about 200 meters to the residency where the elections were being held. The eight delegates were not allowed to vote.

Rumuor going round in town said the incumbent MP was involved in juju. One delegate noticing a dug out hole partly covered under his seat moved to the next one.

One the other hand, supporters of Mr Acheampong, were noted for their rowdy behaviour. They sang and danced using obscene language against the MP. Some even described him as “Kwaku Bonsam.”

Some ladies, who were also supporters of Mr. Acheampong, remarked that should their candidate lose, they will vote for the Convention Peoples Party.

After the elections, Mr Byran Acheampong told newsmen that he will definitely win the next time. He said he has given the MP the left jab and that he will connect with the right to give him a knockout.

Observers see the result as God-sent since there might have been chaos if one had won, owing to the entrenched behaviour of their supporters.

No date has been fixed for the next elections.

Source: ISD (EVELYN HARVEY)
Posted: 27/06/08

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