THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Sunday held primaries in the 45 newly-created constituencies and the Ejumaku-Enyan-Essiam constituency where its candidate Ato Quainoo died a couple of weeks ago.
The primaries recorded surprises and shocks as political heavy weights lost out in the contests.
In the Ashanti Region, seven out of the eight newly-created constituencies elected candidates for the December polls.
The Ashanti Regional Secretary of the party, Sam Pyne, told DAILY GUIDE the polls went smoothly in the seven constituencies, adding it was an indication that the party was deeply rooted in democracy.
He mentioned the winners of the polls as Collins Owusu Amankwah, Manhyia North; Ama Pomaah, Juaben; and Johnson Kwaku Adu, Ahafo Ano South West.
The rest were Yaw Frimpong Addo, Manso Adubia; Osei Boateng, Nwabiagya South; Edward Ennin, Obuasi East; and K. Kwarteng, Sekyere Afram Plains.
The NPP scribe said the polls for Asante Akyem North had been postponed to Tuesday due to an issue concerning one of the contestants.
He said Samuel Anyam Kusi, one of the contestants, had been accused of having dual citizenship which debarred him from contesting the elections.
Sam Pyne said the party had decided to investigate the case before coming out with a ruling, noting that by Tuesday the matter would have been resolved for the polls to take place.
In Accra, the former Deputy National Women?s Organizer, Tina Ayele Mensah lost her bid to contest the newly created Weija/Gbawe seat.
She contested the primary against three other contenders including, Rosemond Amo Debrah, Kofi Dotsi Apiatu and Owusu Afriyie Steven. Madam Rosemond Debrah emerged the winner.
The former NPP National Youth Organizer, Anthony Karbo won the primary in Lawra Constituency in the Upper West Region. He polled 279 to beat his challenger, former Regional Secretary, Stephen Kojo Ngmen who managed 85 votes.
The incumbent MP for the Okaikoi North constituency, Elizabeth Sackey bounced back.
She earlier lost the slot to Patrick Boamah, a young lawyer in the party?s primaries last year, but with the creation of the Okaikoi Central constituency, Mr. Boamah opted to contest the new seat, ceding the Okaikoi North to Mrs. Sackey.
Alhaji Mohammed Baaba Alhassan won by 169 votes in the Ayawaso East constituency, beating Ahmed Mallamfa.
Joe Danquah won with 132 votes to become the NPP Parliamentary aspirant for the Banda constituency in the Brong-Ahafo Region.
Eastern Regional Youth Organizer Frank Annor Dompreh also emerged the winner for the Nsawam Adoagyiri constituency.
Festus Badu Turkson won with 423 votes to become the NPP Parliamentary aspirant for Ajumaku-Anyan- Essiam constituency in the Central Region. He replaced the late Ato Quainoo.
In Bolga East Constituency, former MCE of the area, Rockson Anyina Bukar won by 79 votes.
A former Deputy Defence Minister, Joseph Akudibila won the Timpane constituency primary with 149 votes.
In the Northern Region, Sheikh Abdul Karim won the Sagnarigu constituency.
Muhammad Kamaldeen Amidu won by popular acclamation in the Kparibatoe constituency.
In the Yunyoo constituency, John Kwaku Alhassan emerged the winner with James Cecil Yawumbe winning in the Tatale Sangule Constituency by beating Stephen Kwaku Balado Manu, MP for Ahafo Ano South, who transferred his vote to his home region.
In Daboya, Samuel Tika won the primary with the slimmest of margins, beating his closest contender, Mohammed Mumuni Cassius by just one vote.
In the Volta Region, Justice Joewawa Aklamanu won the Adaklu Constituency primary.
The Akyem Oda Constituency of the Eastern Region was won by William Kwetu.
Titus Glover won the Tema East Constituency, beating the incumbent, Evans Ashong Narh.
Dr. Mrs. Henrietta Abane, a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast was acclaimed for the Cape Coast North. At Gomoa East, Richmond Sam Quarm won with 168 votes and Ewutu Senya West was won Opey Abbey with 198 votes.
Wilson Arthur, a businessman received a popular acclamation for the Wassa East constituency.
Former Minister of Trade and Industry, Joe Baidoo Ansah fended off opposition from four other people to win the Kwesimintim constituency primary with 100 votes.
The candidate for Ngleshi Amanfrom in Accra was also declared unopposed.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi
