Money and violence marred beauty of NDC’s primaries – John Boadu

General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) John Boadu has disclosed that the beauty of the NDC’s primaries was marred by some skirmishes in some constituencies.

He says there were vote-buying and money sharing in some constituencies which he believes is not good for the countries democracy.

Speaking on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' program, he noted that though the exercise was successful and they must be congratulated for that, those skirmishes cannot be ruled out, because of NDC as the main opposition party should be able to foil such tenderizes.

In Tema for instance, an agent was almost lynched for tearing ballot papers.

Vicky Hammah also disclosed on her facebook timeline about vote-buying, adding that the highest bidder won in her constituency Kintampo North.

"As political parties, we must ensure that these simple and basic flaws in elections must be avoided to ensure free, fair and smooth elections," he said.

He added that this makes political parties stronger and even more united for further elections.

He, however, congratulated the NDC for their elections and added that they should be able to resolve all those problems and be able to get themselves together for elections in 2020.



The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primaries took place last Saturday, with some incumbent Members of Parliament (MPs) losing out to fresh faces, some of the big names in the scheme of the party.

At the end of the counting, nine NDC sitting MPs lost and will not be returning to Parliament after 2020.

Veteran Joseph Yieleh Chireh was taken down in Wa West by David Asante-Apeatu’s Executive Secretary, Peter Lanchene Toobu, whose resignation from the Ghana Police Service (GPS) set tongues wagging.

Ras Mubarak, who parked his Land Cruiser and rode a bicycle to Parliament in a populist fashion, also lost in Kumbungu to Dr. Hamza Adam of the UDS, so was Jirapa MP, Dr. Bawaana Dakurah, who was forced down by Cletus Dapilah.

Oscar Larbi defeated incumbent Matthias Kwame Ntow in Aowin, while Engineer Yaw Gomado forced down Abdul Aziz Muniruin Akan.

Current MP for Buem, Daniel Kwasi Ashiamah, was defeated by former NDC National Organizer, Kofi Adams, while Sedem Afenyo defeated Emmanuel Nii Okai Laryea at Amasaman.

In Chiana Paga, where jailed Abuga Pele controlled the seat for a long time, incumbent Lawyer Rudolph Amemga-Etego was defeated by former Kasena Nankana DCE, Thomas Adda Dalu.

Newcomers

Apart from Kofi Adams, new entrants like actor John Dumelo (Ayawaso West Wuogon), who was caught by National Security operatives with a vehicle belonging to the state, Felix Kwakye Ofosu (Abura Asebu Kwamankese), actress Dzifa Gomashie (Ketu South) – all won on the ticket of the NDC for 2020.

However, former Gender Minister Nana Oye Lithur was shocked in Adentan when she failed to beat Mohammed Adamu Rahmadan, brother-in-law of Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

Victoria L. Hammah, who ran away from Ablekuma West to Kintampo North, was thrashed by John Kwame Kumah.