At least 65 New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary aspirants are set to go unopposed in the party’s primaries to be held in 12 days, the party has revealed.
That represents 39% of the the 168 constituencies where primaries are to be held June 20.
The unopposed candidates are mainly within the Ashanti and Eastern regions, the strongholds of the party.
The Ashanti Region has 16 contestants who will contest unchallenged while the Eastern has 12.
Greater Accra – 7 ; Ahafo – 2; Bono – 4; Bono East – 2; Central – 7; North East – 0; Northern- 3; Oti-1; Savanna-1; Upper East-1; Upper West-1; Western- 6; Western North – 2.
A total of 42 of the unopposed aspirants are ministers and deputy ministers. One aspirant is a non-MP, and four of the NPP’s leadership in parliament are sole contestants. The rest are sitting MPs.
Selection of aspirants for Kwadaso and Dormaa Central Constituencies are yet to take place. The two seats are currently held by Dr. Akoto Owusu Afriyie and Kwaku Agyemang-Manu respectively.
Some disappointed have pointed to unfair tactics and complained they were denied the opportunity to purchase application forms at the party offices.
Some of the constituencies with those complaints were: Bekwai, Suame, Asokwa, Ablekuma West.
Here is a list of the aspirants standing unopposed:
1. Tano South – Sekyere Benjamin Yeboah [MP]
2. Tano North – Freda Prempeh [MP and Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection]
3. Afigya Kwabre South – William Owuraku Aidoo [MP and Deputy Minister of Energy in charge of Power]
4. Afigya Sekyere East – Mavis Nkansah – Boadu [MP]
5. Ahafo Ano North – Suleman Adamu Sanid [MP]
6. Ahafo Ano South East – Francis Manu – Adabor [MP]
7. Ahafo Ano South West – Johnson Kwaku Adu [MP]
8. Asokwa – Patricia Appiagyei [MP and Deputy Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation]
9. Atwima Mponua – Isaac Kwame Asiamah [MP and Minister of Sports]
10. Atwima Nwabiagya South – Emmanuel Agyei Anhwere [MP]
11. Bekwai – Joseph Osei – Owusu [MP and First Deputy Speaker]
12. Bosomtwe – Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum [MP and Deputy Minister of Education]
13. Fomena – Philip Ofori – Asante [Non-MP, Businessman/Banker]
14. Kwabre East – Francisca Oteng Mensah [MP]
15. Manhyia South – Matthew Opoku Prempeh [MP and Minister of Education]
16. New Edubiase – George Boahen Oduro [MP and Deputy Minister of Agriculture in charge of Horticulture]
17. Offinso North – Ntim Augustine Collins [MP and Deputy and Deputy Minister of Local Government
18. Suame – Osei Kyei – Mensah-Bonsu [MP, Majority Leader, and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs]
19. Berekum West – Kwaku Agyenim-Boateng [MP and Deputy Minister of Railways]
20. Dormaa West – Ali Maiga Halidu [MP]
21. Jaman North – Siaka Stevens [MP and Deputy Regional Minister for Bono]
22. Sunyani West – Ignatius Baffour Awuah [MP and Minister of Employment and Labour Relations]
23. Techiman South – Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah [Deputy Minister for Regional Reorganisation and Development]
24. Atebubu – Amanten – Kofi Amoakohene [MP and Minister for Bono East]
25. Assin Central – Ken Ohene Agyapong [MP]
26. Assin South – John Ntim Fordjuor [MP]
27. Awutu Senya East – Mavis Hawa Koomson [MP and Minister for Special Development Initiatives]
28. Effutu – Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin [MP]
29. Ekumfi – Francis Kingsley Ato Cudjoe [MP and Deputy Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture]
30. Gomoa Central – Naana Eyiah [MP and Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources]
31. Gomoa East – Kojo Asemanyi [MP]
32. Abetifi – Bryan Acheampong [MP and Minister of State at the Ministry of Interior]
33. Abirem – Osei Frimpong John [MP]
34. Abuakwa South – Samuel Atta Akyea [MP and Minister of Works and Housing]
35. Akim Swedru – Kennedy Osei Nyarko [MP and Deputy Minister for Agriculture in charge of Perennial Crops]
36. Akuapem North – Asiamah – Adjei Nana Dokua [MP and Deputy Minister of Information]
37. Asene Akroso Manso – George Aboagye [MP]
38. Atiwa East – Abena Osei – Asare [MP and Deputy Minister of Finance]
39. Atiwa West – Kwasi Amoako – Attah [MP, and Minister of Roads and Highways]
40. Fanteakwa North – Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah [MP]
41. Okere – Daniel Botwe [MP, and Minister of Regional Reorganisation and Development]
42. Ofoase-Ayerebi – Kojo Oppong Nkrumah [MP and Minister of Information]
43. Upper Manya Krobo – Joseph Tetteh [MP and Deputy Minister for the Eastern Region]
44. Ablekuma West – Ursula G. Owusu – Ekuful [MP and Minister of Communication]
45. Ayawaso Central – Henry Quartey [MP and Deputy Minister of National Security]
46. Ledzokuku – Bernard Okoe Boye [MP and Deputy Minister of Health]
47. Madina – Abu -Bakar Saddique Boniface [MP and the Minister of State at the Office of the Vice President]
48. Okaikwei Central – Patrick Yaw Boamah [MP and Deputy Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources]
49. Trobu – Moses Anim [MP and Second Deputy Majority Whip]
50. Weija – Gbawe – Tina Gifty Naa Ayeley Mensah [MP and Deputy Minister of Health]
51. Bimbilla – Nitiwul Bingab Aduna Dominic [MP and Minister of Defence]
52. Kpandai – Matthew Nyindam [MP and First Deputy Majority Whip]
53. Sevelugu – Muhamed Abdul – Samed Gunu [MP]
54. Krachi East – Michael Yaw Gyato [MP and Deputy Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources]
55. Salaga South – Salifu Adam Braimah [MP]
56. Tempane – Joseph Dindiok Kpemka [MP and Deputy Attorney General and Minister for Justice]
57. Nandom – Ambrose Dery [MP and Minister for the Interior]
58. Sekondi – Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer [MP]
59. Essikado Ketan – Joe Ghartey [Minister of Railways Development]
60. Tarkwa Nsuaem – George Mireku Duker [MP]
61. Jomoro – Paul Essien [MP and Deputy Minister For Chieftaincy And Religious Affairs]
62. Evalue Ajomoro – Catherine Abelema Afeku [MP and Minister of State at the Presidency]
63. Prestea Huni – Valley – Barbara Oteng – Gyasi [MP and Minister of Tourism]
64. Sefwi Wiawso – Kwaku Afriyie [MP and Minister of State in Charge of State Interest and Governance Authority]
65. Sefwi Akontombra – Djornobuah Alex Tetteh [MP and Deputy Minister for Western North]