Deputy Chieftaincy Minister endorsed as Jomoro NPP parliamentary candidate

Over one thousand delegates of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Jomoro Constituency of the Western Region have approved the candidature of Mr. Paul Essien, to contest the party's parliamentary seat in the upcoming General Elections.

Mr. Paul Essien who is the sitting MP and the Deputy Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs was overwhelmingly endorsed by a popular acclamation by the delegates on Friday, June 19, 2020.

His acclamation followed a decision taken by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party to disqualify his two main contenders namely; Mrs. Christine Komba and Mr. Paul Hopeson Kwaw from contesting him.

The NDC in 2016 lost the Jomoro Parliamentary seat to the NPP for the first time since 1992.

Mr. Paul Essien won the seat for the NPP with 18,694 represented 39.49%. as against the NDC candidate, Mr. Thomas Yankey who pulled 14,241 represented 30.08%.

In this regard, the NPP's NEC saw the need to allow the Deputy Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Paul Essien to run unopposed as an appreciation for winning the parliamentary seat for the first time for the party in 2016.

Before the popular acclamation, the NPP in Jomoro Constituency was divided into two camps of which some supporters of the incumbent MP called on President Akufo-Addo to sack the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the area for allegedly sabotaging the MP.

But, speaking to the delegates on Friday, June 19 at Half Assini, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Ernest Kofie who was the Constituency Chairman for the party in 2016 called on the delegates and party supporters to bury their differences and rally behind the incumbent MP Paul Essien to retain the seat.

He, therefore, seized the opportunity to urge the close followers of the MP to be mindful their communication not to give problems to the MP.

He said the NPP could not afford to lose the seat to the NDC in the coming general elections.

Mr. Ernest Kofie also called on the party faithful to work hard for President Akufo-Addo to governing this country for eight years as the NDC was given the opportunity to serve this country for good years.

He, however, hailed the incumbent MP for chalking success in the Constituency.

He said the MP had proven to the whole the Constituency that if giving another chance he would do more.

He, therefore, pledged to collaborate with the MP to develop the area.

On his part, the incumbent MP Paul Essien pledged to bring all aggrieved party members on deck to maintain the seat for the party.

He said he was ready to work with all NPP members and ready to accept all aggrieved members.

He stated that interest of the party should be their first priority and thanked those who supported him financially in 2016 to claim the Jomoro Parliamentary seat for the first time in the history of Ghana's politics.

New voter's register

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the area Mr. Ernest Kofie charged the NPP supporters to involve themselves in the exercise and asked them to be vigilant during the exercise.

He said the compilation of the new voter's register should be embraced by all Ghanaians.

He assured his teeming supporters that the party would not allow foreigners to be registered and decide for this country.

The Jomoro NPP Parliamentary acclamation brought all the Constituency Executives together as a sign of cohesion.

Apart from Jomoro Constituency, aspirants in Evalue-Ajomoro Gwira, Prestea Huni-Valley, Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Sekondi and Essikado-Ketan Constituencies are contesting unopposed.

However, the NPP is holding Parliamentary primaries on Saturday, June 20, 2020, in 103 Constituencies across the country where the seats are being occupied by incumbent MPs.