On Saturday, thousands of delegates will queue up to vote in the NPP Parliamentary Primaries nationwide.
The first set of primaries were done last year to determine Parliamentary Candidates in constituencies which NPP had no seat. This is what they refer by the term, barren constituencies.
Saturday’s primaries is going to be interesting since it involves NPP MPs currently in parliament.
It means there will definitely be winners and losers. Losers might never return to parliament again.
And bearing in mind that some MPs have no professions or work experience, in case they lose, this is a “do and die” affair.
Though the NPP has managed to keep internal wranglings at the constituency level to the bearest minimum, there is so much interesting competitions and rivalries ongoing.
You can’t expect new entrants like Sheila Bartels, Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, Dr. Louise Carol Serwaa Donkor etc to face off the likes of K.T Hammond and other old guns without drama.
Some of the old guns lobbied their way to stand unopposed.
The Nsawam-Adoagyiri primaries is dubbed “David Vs Goliath”, and rightly so.
The incumbent Frank Annoh-Dompreh (MP) who is seeking a third mandate is struggling to brush off the competition of his way younger challenger David Adu-Tutu Jnr, a 32 year old lawyer with immense track record.
Though technically not a stronghold, the NPP has held the Nsawam-Adoagyiri seat for 20 years. So there is the usual awareness that whoever wins the seat is bound to be in parliament next year.
The incumbent MP comes under strong criticisms for neglecting the people whenever elections are over.
Some claim he doesn’t make himself accessible to the populace to know their wants and needs policy wise.
Some party executives have bemoaned his neglect of the party office and lack of plans to push for the capacity building of polling station executives.
Despite his seemingly reduced popularity, the MP has managed to secure job placement for some guys in the constituency mostly close to him.
His behaviour of alienating opposing views is a major factor of his dwindling popularity.
Despite all this , Mr. Annoh-Dompreh still commands respect from his peers in parliament.
What is not understandable is his seemingly unprepared for the challenge his opponent will throw to him.
The young lawyer affectionately called Lawyer JD has won the heart of the populace in the Nsawam-Adoagyiri constituency.
His support base is mixed, from little kids, market women, the young professionals, old party veterans and even a bit of administration from the opposition NDC.
This makes him a potential vote magnet if given the mandate to run in the 2020 Elections.
To crown it all, his has laid down what he calls “achievable plans”, towards the good of the polling station executives.
Since the plans have stood the test of all propaganda.
In the last 2 months, the incumbent has been made to dance to the tune of his challenger by changing his style of campaign.
He has also taken steps to assist in the reopening of the defunct Nsawam-Astek, when he pushed.
Some roads in the community, which hitherto had been left, in the last month started seeing earthmoving machines.
Will all the last minute efforts win him some votes, or the delegates will heed to the populace.
It’s David and Goliath affair literally and figuratively.
Source: Ghanafeed.com
