Mahama to ease off post-primary rivalry

President John Mahama intends holding a “family meeting” to address any tensions between winners and losers who contested the recently held parliamentary primaries of the governing National Democratic Congress.

There was stiff competition in some of the constituencies, especially Ningo-Prampram, where young politician Samuel George Nartey beat his former mentor and veteran incumbent E.T Mensah in a fiercely-contested and violence-laden electioneering. The two have been bitter rivals both before and during the elections.

There were also isolated troubles in areas like Upper Manya in the Eastern Region, and Suame in the Ashanti Region where supporters of some aspirants challenged the electoral process and raised issues with the results.

Already some of the losers are hinting at going to court to challenge the results. One of such losers is incumbent MP for Afram Plains North, Emmanuel Aboagye Didieye. Another aspirant, Francis-Xavier Sosu, who lost to incumbent Amadu Sorogho, had earlier intended challenging the results in court, but later had a change of mind.

Speaking at the party’s headquarters after his endorsement as flagbearer for the 2016 elections, Mr Mahama said the primaries were a family contest and “I expect that any hard feelings flowing out of this contest would be put aside, so, we can all work together for the victory of the party in 2016.”

“I intend, very soon, to hold a family meeting that will bring all who contested the primaries together. This will certainly be before the end of this year’s break. We must smoothen over any disagreements arising out of these primaries before the end of the year,” Mr Mahama said.

He said: “After the festivities, we would have barely 10 months to go to the election. We must all work to win the elections of 2016. With the party’s continued stay in power, I am certain that there will be enough responsibility to be placed on the shoulders of all of you to work for the good people of Ghana.”