LEAKED AUDIO : CONFUSION AT ATWIMA NWABIAGYA NORTH CONSTITUENCY OVER ENDORSEMENT OF BENITO OWUSU BIO

MP for Atwima Nwabiagya North, Benito Owusu Bio

Ahead of a novelty Parliamentary primaries of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) is being characterized by confusion at various polling stations in the Atwima Nwabiagya North constituency as the polling executives are divided over the endorsement of the incumbent Member of Parliament, Hon Benito Owusu Bio to go unopposed which is contrary to Article 11 of the NPP constitution.

There is an audio going viral on social media platforms purported to be r recording of a meeting between the Atwima Nwabiagya North constituency Executives and polling station executives, where the polling station executives have been asked to sign an endorsement form presented to them to allow Hon Benito to go unopposed.

The meeting was held on Sunday 24th March, 2019 Adankwame electoral area, and in the audio, the first vice chairman of the constituency, Hon Frank Sarkodie was heard asking the polling executives to just sign the endorsement form for a reward.

According to Hon Sarkodie who chaired the meeting, the MP has promise them something and all they need to do is to endorse him.

On Monday 18th March, 2019 Concern Youth of Atwima Nwabiagya North described it as unconstitutional, attempts by the constituency executives to allow Member of Parliament for the constituency, Hon Benito Owusu Bio to go unopposed in the party’s approaching parliamentary primaries.

According to the group, the constituency executives in a series of meetings with the polling station executives concluded that nobody will be allowed to contest the sitting MP, a decision most of the polling station executives are not happy with.

Starting from first week of April, the constituency executives will send an endorsement forms to all the polling station executives to sign as they only need 40% and above the MP.

Concern youth of Awima Nwabiagya North believes this is totally against the party’s constitution and must be condemned.

The major political parties in Ghana have been democratizing their candidate selection process, allowing candidates to be freely selected through primary elections.

Nevertheless, the procedures employed by the parties to fill internal party positions or how they select candidates for parliamentary and presidential elections have not attracted the level of scholarly attention they deserve.

The problems that have characterized the Parliamentary primaries of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) keep recurring as the primaries are conducted across the various constituencies.

Endorsement form being signed by delegates

The youth vowed to resist any attempt by the constituency executives to force them to sign and endorse Hon Benito Owusu Bio because he is not the only competent person in the party.

In the latest audio, while some polling executives are seeking for better and further explanation from the constituency executives, others too want to sign without any enquiry for cash.

An executive was heard in the audio saying this exercise is being done everywhere in the country as according to him the majority leader in Parliament and Member of Parliament for Suame constituency, Hon Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu is also on the same agenda to go unopposed.

Ahead of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primaries in 2019, the party has issued a directive to all prospective MP aspirants to stop campaigning.

The party said parliamentary aspirants can only canvass for votes at a time the party approves, but until then, all campaigns in that regard should cease.

The General Secretary John Boadu said in a statement on Monday, November 12, 2018 said the "caution has become necessary following complaints the party has been receiving about the conduct of some prospective parliamentary aspirants who are overtly and covertly campaigning to delegates ahead of the opening of nominations."

The statement added: "The conduct of these persons does not only flout the party’s internal regulations but also undermines the very structures of the party, particularly at the constituency levels and regional levels."

It noted that parliamentary aspirant who fails to abide by the rules of engagement will be disqualified.

The leadership of the party in must act quickly in this constituency to avoid possible dangers that might occur.

Source : Odiasempa Kwaku Mensah