By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
The Manhyia South Constituency of the governing New Patriotic Party, NPP will on Sunday, July 14, 2024, organise another internal election to select a replacement for their Member of Parliament, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, who will be stepping down from his parliamentary duties at the end of the tenure of the current Legislature. Five hundred and 68 delegates are expected to vote at the election.
The Manhyia South Constituency of the ruling NPP has been compelled by circumstances to find a replacement for their incumbent Member of Parliament, Dr. Opoku Prempeh, affectionately called NAPO, when he steps down at the end of the current Parliament on January 6, 2025.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh was re-elected at the last Constituency primaries after overwhelmingly defeating his only contender to contest for the fifth time in the December 7 election. However, following his nomination by the Flagbearer of the NPP for the 2024 Presidential election, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and his subsequent acceptance and approval by the NPP’s National Executive Council last week, Dr. Opoku Prempeh, who is also the Minister for Energy, will not be contesting for the Parliamentary seat of the Constituency in December, thereby necessitating his replacement by the party in Manhyia South.
Four members of the party out of the five who picked nomination forms after close of nominations submitted their forms, which were subsequently cleared by the Vetting Committee.
They are Nana Owusu Afriyie Prempeh, a biological brother of the current MP; Nana Agyei Baffuor Awuah, a private legal practitioner; Akwasi Coker Gyembibi; and James Owusu Boakye.
Data from the party indicates that a total of 568 members of the party in the Constituency will be eligible to vote in the primaries scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday, 14th July in Kumasi.
The electoral college will be constituted by 535 Polling Station Executives, 17 Constituency Executives, six Electoral Area Coordinators and members of the Constituency Council of Elders.
The election will be supervised by the Electoral Commission.
The Ashanti Regional Communication Director of the NPP, Paul Yandoh, told GBC News that, barring any last minute hitch, the party is well prepared to ensure a successful constituency poll.
Mr. Yandoh commended the Manhyia South Constituency for nurturing and producing a high quality person and member for the Running Mate and Vice Presidential aspirant for the party. He therefore urged the delegates at Sunday’s elections to choose somebody who will be a worthy replacement for Dr. Opoku Prempeh.
Meanwhile, the aspirants have embarked on vigorous campaigns, adopting various strategies, in order to win the favour of the delegates.
