A Rawlings to contest NDC primaries

As the New Patriotic Party (NPP) winds down its parliamentary primaries, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) is getting ready to start theirs.

It is expected that the NDC will hold their primaries in the orphan constituencies in October, this year. March, 2016 is the scheduled date for primaries in constituencies with NDC sitting Members of Parliament (MPs).

There are credible indications that pressure is mounting from the grassroots of the NDC for the eldest child of the former First Family, Dr. Ezenator Rawlings to contest the NDC primaries. It is likely that if ex-President Jerry Rawlings and his wife, Nana Konadu agree to convince Ezenator to heed to those calls, she would be spoilt for choice.

In the Greater Accra Region, it is likely that she could contest in the NDC primaries in the Klottey Korle constituency where the incumbent NDC MP is a 65-year-old lawyer, Nii Armah Ashietey.

There are credible reports Nii Ashietey would not be contesting the NDC primaries – he will retire from active politics. If Ezenator decides to contest in the Klottey Korle constituency, she is likely to meet the person tipped to win the NPP’s primary in Klottey Korle, Mr. Philip Addison, a lawyer.

Klottey Korle is one of the swing constituencies in Ghanaian elections. The NDC won the seat in 2012 with 36,122 votes (48.55%) and the NPP – 34,847 (46.83%).

Ezenator, who is a medical doctor, is also being courted by some constituencies in the Volta Region to contest the primaries there.

The NDC MP for Ablekuma South, Mr. Fritz Frederic Baffour, 63, is quitting Parliament. He will not be contesting the NDC primary and the Mayor of Accra, Mr. Alfred Oko Vanderpuye is one of those expected to contest to be the NDC’s candidate.

The NPP won the Ayawaso Central seat in 2008 and 2012 by a margin of less than 1,000 votes. The incumbent MP, Mr. Henry Qautey, will be flying the NPP’s flag in 2016.

One of the persons likely to contest the NDC’s primaries in this constituency is the Director of Communications at Zoomlion, Mr. Robert Coleman.