Tears In NPP

The rejection of incumbent Members of Parliament (MPs) by New Patriotic Party (NPP) delegates across the country is growing by the day, with the affected MPs nursing their painful exit from the next Parliament.

The traumatized legislators have been shedding tears for their loss since they were dealt the electoral blows.

Another MP, Nii Adu-Mante of Korle Klottey, Osu was given the marching orders last Saturday at the constituency primary held at the Teachers’ Hall, Accra.

Coming few days after similar defeats were handed down to Ishamael Ashitey, MP for Tema East and Isaac Edousar Edumadze, former Central Regional Minister and MP for Ajumako /Enyan/Essiam, the list of defeated MPs is expected to grow with its attendant pains. Edumadze, who could not contain the agony of defeat, allegedly vent his spleen on a Daily Graphic reporter, who was beaten to a pulp.

Daily Guide has learnt about the intermittent sobbing by a female loser anytime her colleague MPs attempt empathizing with her in Parliament for the “loss”.

With the likelihood of the statistics changing further, there is no end in sight yet for the sobbing of MPs who would fall to the electoral sword of delegates. The NPP still has a number of primaries to undertake across the country. Lawyer Adu Mante, representing the Korley Klottey constituency, joined the unusual long list of his colleagues who must bid adieu to the august House of Parliament at the end of December. Adu-Mante and Ishmael Ashitey, former Fisheries Minister are joining Abraham Laryea Odai, Krowor; Samuel Nii Aryeetey Attoh, Trobu/Amasaman; and Victor Okuley Nortey, Ablekuma Central in the league of fallen MPs.

For now, the political pendulum has swung to the delegates, and they are using it with maximum effect to decide who represents them and who does not.

Not even Lawyer Adu Mante’s promise that those who did not benefit from his stewardship in the past seven years would have a chance if he wins this time around, could change the minds of the delegates. He was drowned by a young blood, Nii Tackie Tawiah, a social scientist turned businessman who polled 81. The incumbent polled a paltry 20 as Mr. Abankwa Yeboah, the man who is dragging the party to court to have his name included in those vying for the seat thus delaying the polls for about a week, polled 11.

Akuffo Mensah, aka Nee Gezu, a former Assemblyman for Tudu who attracted the most thunderous applause when he stepped into the hall, earned a zero. It was difficult to tell who the underdog was going to be when each of the four candidates took their turns to deliver their last campaign speeches to the delegates, because each of them received thunderous applause.

There is no denying the fact that something has changed in grass-root politics, underscoring the fact that taking delegates very seriously is the best way to stay unscathed in Parliament. Although democracy can be said to be at work, observers have expressed worry at what for them is the exiting of experienced legislators, some of who have put in about eight years of consistent legislative work. While some have been booted out, other MPs have just thrown in the towel after many years of service.

The Ashanti and Eastern Regions have suffered the most electoral casualties in the ongoing primaries, and more are expected to follow. So far, some 21 MPs from both the NPP and NDC across the country have lost the opportunity to wear their party colours when the bell is tolled for the December 7 parliamentary election.

The Greater Accra, Ashanti and Eastern Regions share five lost MPs each. The Volta Region has lost three while Central and B/A regions shouted the marching orders to two including Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey, MP for Berekum and Anna Nyamekye, MP for Jaman South. The man who sought to lead the NPP as a flag-bearer, Hon Effah-Dartey, suffered a devastating slap by delegates in his Berekum constituency in the Brong Ahafo Region, a development which made the headlines. The former military officer is also leaving with two terms of legislating experience. The NPP tops the list of rejected MPs with 18, and we could still be counting, while its counterpart, the NDC lost three.

Yaw Barimah, who has been MP for three consecutive times and held the Works and Housing portfolio, was one of the first to be fired by his constituency, New Juaben South in the Eastern Region. In the Ashanti Region, the list contains such popular names like Hilda Josephine Addo of Kwadaso, Kwabena Appiah-Pinkrah for Akrofuom, Nana Yaw Ofori Kuragu for Bosome Freho, Kwame Owusu Frimpong, Ahafo Ano North and Peter Sarkodie of Mampong. In the Eastern Region, the casualty list includes J.B. Danquah Adu, Abuakwa North; Godfred Okyere, Ayensuano; and James Apeatu Ankra, Lower West Akyem.