MINORITY LEADER IN 'NO CONTEST' AS NPP OVERHAULS ASHANTI MPs

The much anticipated keen contest by candidates for the Suame Constituency in Kumasi in the NPP’s Parliamentary primaries turned out to be virtually a ‘no contest’ for the incumbent MP, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, who is as well the Minority Leader in Parliament. 

The expectation of a stiffer race in the constituency almost rendered Suame the epicenter of Saturday's parliamentary primary. 

Three members of the NPP challenged Mr. Kyei Mensah Bonsu and gave the impression that the Minority Leader’s continuous stay in the Legislature would end with the tenure of the present Parliament but that was never to be. 

After the voting process which was very peaceful and successful, Mr. Kyei Mensah Bonsu won 283 of the 494 valid votes cast. His tally represents 55 point-nine percent of the total votes cast.

 His closest contender, Kwadwo Boateng Genfi, popularly called ‘Home Boy’ whom many a political watcher had tipped to unseat the  ‘Suame Mugabi’ could only manage to poll 89 votes representing 17 point-four percent of the ballots. 

The remaining two, Lawyer John Darko and Richard Soadwa polled 66 and 54 votes respectively. 

The Presiding Officer, Manu Sekyere, in declaring the results of the elections said out of the 511 total delegates on the register, 494 were able to vote out of which three of the votes were rejected. 

In his victory remarks, Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu noted that even though he expected to win by a 300 vote margin, he is still satisfied with the margin of the victory. 

He said the contest was just an internal affairs for which reason his focus now is how to unite all the factions towards the main elections next year. 

He was hopeful that with hardwork and determination by all the members, the party should be able to widen its margin of victory in both the Presidential and Parliamentary elections in 2016.

 Mr. Mensah Bonsu emphasized that the NPP needs the votes of non members before the party could win the general elections. All the losing candidates pledged their support and loyalty to the party and its activities towards the next elections. 

In a related development, the delegates of the party made sweeping changes to the NPP’s MPs in the Ashanti region with a number of the big wigs crashing out. 

Among notable incumbent MPs who lost the primaries are Dr. Richard Anane who lost the Nhiaeso seat to the resigned Ashanti Regional Organizer of the Party, Kennedy Kankam. 

Also, Isaac Osei lost the Subin contest to Eugene Boakye Antwi while Madam Grace Addo lost narrowly to the renowned publisher, Professor Joseph Quarm in the Manso Nkwanta contest. Professor Quarm won by 116 votes to Madam Addo’s 115. 

Similarly, the losing Presidential candidate, Addai Nimo, lost the Asante Mampong seat to Peter Kwaku Sarpong while the Chairperson of the current Ashanti Caucus in Parliament, Madam Elizabeth Agyemang also lost to her resigned Constituency Chairman, Lawyer Marfo. 

Additionally, the two-term MP for Kwadaso, Dr. Osei Akoto got rejected by the delegates. 

Mr. Kofi Frempong also lost the Kwabre East contest to a 22-year old female second year law student of the KNUST. On the other hand, some of the incumbent MPs were able to retain their seats.