MORE YOUTH, FEW WOMEN PICK NPP FORMS

Ashanti Today's checks have revealed that many members of the New Patriotic Party are picking nomination forms to contest in the upcoming Parliamentary Primaries of the party in the Ashanti region. 

The checks have showed also that while many more youth are joining the race, only a few women have so far showed interest in the contest. 

However, interested eligible members of the party have almost one month to join the race. 

At the Nhyiaeso Constituency in Kumasi, the Chairman, George Kofi Agyei popularly called Joe Cads disclosed that so far, three members have collected the nomination forms to contest in the primaries. 

They are the former Ashanti Regional Organizer of the party, Kennedy Kankam who recently resigned his position to join the race. 

The others are Kwaku Appiah Minkah said to be the son of the renowned industrialists and the Chairman of the Ashanti Regional Council of Elders of the party, Akenten Appiah-Minka, in addition to one Stephen Amoah said to be a Lecturer. 

According to the Constituency Chairman, the incumbent MP, Dr. Richard Winfred Anane has not indicated his intention to seek a re-election. 

In the Fomena Constituency, the Secretary, Osei Mensah disclosed that one person, Desmong Afoakwa is the only member to have collected the nomination forms. 

He revealed also that three other members have already informed him of their intention to pick the forms. 

They include the incumbent MP, Atta Boafo, and his immediate predecessor, Abu Bonsra. 

Similarly at the Asokwa Constituency in Kumasi, the Chairman, Asare Bediako told Ashanti Today that only the incumbent MP, Madam Patricia Appiagyei, has so far picked the nomination forms without any other member declaring the wish to also contest. 

In the Odotobri Constituency, two persons have collected the forms. 

The Chairman, Dominic Bosompem named them as one Gyimah Sarpong and Edward Boadi, a banker. 

According to the Chairman, five other members including the incumbent MP, Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi have also declared his interest in seeking the mandate of the members to represent the people. 

The Chairman of the Asokwa Constituency, Asare Bediako emphasized the fact that the picking of nominations does not automatically mean such members will really contest in the primaries since some could eventually back out of the race. 

Similarly, any qualified members with the interest to join the race still have the opportunity to collect the nomination forms and contest for the slots.

 Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Secretary of the NPP, Sam Pyne has told Ashanti Today that no aspirant has so far collected the nomination forms from the Regional office. 

This, according to him, is an indication that none of the aspirants has had a problem accessing the nomination forms from the Constituency offices of the party. 

Mr. Pyne explained that it is only members who have difficulties in getting the cooperation of Constituency Executives who are allowed to pick the nomination forms from the Regional office in Kumasi and therefore expressed the hope that the healthy situation would remain till the end of the exercise.